President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that that to run a 21st century educational system, Nigerian education administrators must fundamentally address the challenges of poor work ethics and prolonged industrial actions.
Delivering a convocation address at the 43rd Convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on Saturday, President Jonathan said: “You will agree with me that the development we desire can only take place in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility”.
The President who was represented by the Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, noted that inadequate funding was not the only challenge facing tertiary institutions in the country.
He called alumni of universities to work with his administration to fund developmental projects in respective universities, stressing that the Federal Government alone cannot fund the revival of infrastructure in public institutions.
According to President Jonathan: “The reality we face is that, the task of funding our universities cannot be left to government alone. Let me therefore reiterate my appeal to university administrators to continue to seek other ways of generating additional revenues needed to fund research and other capital development in the institutions”.
He noted that his administration has kept its promise of providing additional funding for universities through TETFund high impact interventions and other funding sources, adding that universities must judiciously apply funds available to them.
Talking directly to the graduating students, President Goodluck Jonathan urged them to be good ambassadors of their alma mater, saying that they must at all time protect the image of their school.
In his address, Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Bartho Okolo decried the situation where institutions are completely dependent on government for funding, saying the present situation can never bring about growth.
Meanwhile, the Pro-Chancellor, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, has commended the Jonathan administration for improved funding to address the perennial challenges facing the nation’s universities.
He made the commendation in his remarks at the convocation ceremony and urged stakeholders to assist in the funding of the universities as government alone is not likely to meet all the needs of these schools.
Highpoint of the 43rd Convocation of the University was the commissioning of the Students Multi-activity court by the president, performed by the Supervising Minister of Education.
Also in attendance at the convocation ceremony were the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala and representatives of Tertiary Education Trust Fund and National Universities Commission.
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