President Bola Tinubu has expressed his commitment to addressing the challenges facing the Nigerian university system.
Speaking at the 6th and 7th combined convocation ceremony of the Federal University Wukari in Taraba State, the President, who serves as the Visitor to the institution, highlighted the importance of university autonomy in building the capacities of the populace to excel globally.
The President assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s dedication to developing and sustaining an education system that will propel the nation forward.
Represented by Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman who was also represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Modibbo Adama Federal University of Technology Yola, Professor Muhammed Inuwa, he said strategic approaches at all levels are being implemented to address the challenges of the education sector in the country.
Tinubu restated his administration’s top priority of addressing the issue of out-of-school children.
He revealed that various measures have been implemented to ensure the constitutional provisions for access to education for Nigerian children are upheld, including the reintroduction of the school feeding program, which significantly incentivises attendance.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Wukari, Professor Jude Samanni Rabo, in his address acknowledged the support and funding they have received from TETFund and other Federal Government appropriations, which have enabled the institution to reach its current level of development.
He assured the President that the university, like others, will not relent in its primary objective of providing students with the education, skills, and competencies required to be assets to society.
The VC announced the completion and commissioning on March 15th, 2024, of three uncompleted projects he inherited when he assumed office in 2021.
The projects included prototype buildings, the College of Health Sciences, and the Perimeter fence of the institution.
He also informed the President that a Teaching Hospital has been established for the university, which requires an urgent upgrade to provide the necessary training for medical students who are about to enter the 300 level.
Prof. Rabo appealed to the federal government and philanthropists to provide the university with a Special Intervention Fund to address the challenge of insufficient hostel accommodation for students and insufficient residential accommodation for staff.
He emphasised the need for the construction of additional student hostels and staff residential quarters on the campus to meet the accommodation requirements of both students and staff.
During the convocation, the Chancellor of the University, who is also the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees of Science, Law, and Letters on the Paramount Ruler of Kwararafa Kingdom, the Aku Uka of Wukari, HRM Manu Ishaku Adda Ali Matakitswen, the immediate past SGF, Boss Mustapha, and the former Minister of Water Resources, Chief Obadiah Ando.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that a total of 3,031 individuals were awarded Bachelor’s degrees, out of which 120 candidates had first-class.
