President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, expressed readiness of the Federal Government to implement fully any acceptable recommendation made to it by the various visitation panels to federal universities nationwide who are expected to submit their reports soonest.
He also pledged to make the universities genuine places of scholarship and innovation rather than theatres of avoidable conflicts.
Buhari gave the impression at the 51st convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos(UNILAG) Akoka.
He was represented at the event which was the last batch of the four-day ceremonies and with 148 out of the total 15,753 graduating students across levels conferred with PhD by the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission(NUC), Prof Abubakar Rasheed.
According to the president, the government holds our universities in high esteem, and it believes that a healthy university system will translate to a healthy society and positive national development. “We recognise the place of our intellectuals to undertake cutting-edge research that will address our existential realities and contribute to making life better for all.
“We acknowledge that our progress, as a nation, will be driven by a well educated human resource base and that is why we shall continue to take necessary steps to ensure that our universities are crisis-free and provided with adequate resources.
“So, we shall continue to interface with all stakeholders to ensure that we have a stable higher education system that is not only well funded but also contributes to the nation’s global competitiveness.”
Speaking further, Buhari said the establishment of new universities and given of approval to private ones were in a way boosting employment opportunities in the country.
He congratulated all the graduands and urged them to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria.
In their separate adresses, the Chancelllor of the university and the Sheu of Borno; His eminence Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garba, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Senator Lanre Tejuoso and the Vice- Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, congratulated the graduands for the academic achievents, saying they are expected to contribute significantly to their respective disciplines and to the national and global economy.
In his own remarks, the governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum said his administration is very passionate about human capital development, hence, his adminstration’s decision to send 200 indegenes of the state on sponsorship for doctoral degree programmes to UNILAG.
Meanwhile, the highpoint of the event was the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees to five eminent Nigerians including the Chairman, Premier Lotto Limited, Sir Kessington Adebutu; Chairman of Troyka Holdings Limited, Mr Biodun Shobanjo; founder and Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Dr Mohammed Indimi and the former Lead Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist, First Consultant Hospital, Late Dr Amaeyo-Stella- Adedevoh(posthumous) while the late Vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe was honoured with distinguished professorship.
Speaking, the Chairman, Premier Lotto Limited, Sir Kessington Adebutu said he cherished the honour and donated N200 million to boost internet facilities in the university while the Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia, donated 3,500 tablet for the use of indigent students.
Other eminent personalities in attendance were the chairman of Dangote group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Shetima Kasim, co-founder of Rosabel Advertising Agency, Mr. Steve Omojafor; US Consul general, Mr Claire Pierangelo; Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi and Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND), Alhaji Kasim Imam and so forth.
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