President Muhammadu Buhari has urged universities in the
country on the need for them to increase their internally generated revenue
(IGR) to enhance sustainable education.
The President stated this during the 44th convocation
ceremony of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Saturday.
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Buhari, who was represented by the Deputy Executive
Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Suleiman Raman-Yusuf,
said that the present administration had contributed a lot in the area of
education.
According to him, the future of Nigeria lies in the mode and
quality of education provided to the teeming citizenry, especially the youth,
as they are the nation’s future.
While reiterating that government alone could not do it,
Buhari noted that in most developed countries, universities supported their
governments in the funding of education.
He urged universities to be up and doing in contributing
their quota to the efforts in diversifying the nation’s economy and creating
the opportunity for economic growth.
“It is the responsibility of all and sundry to move the
nation forward and towards the right direction,” the president stated.
He warned members of staff of the country’s universities
against abuse of office, especially sexual harassment, saying that anyone found
wanting would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Buhari urged the graduands to become honed in
entrepreneurial skills, saying they should be providers of economic solutions
rather becoming its problems.
He charged them to embark on research that would address the
challenges of development and contribute to making life better.
Also speaking, the Chancellor of the institution, Alhaji
Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, observed that the relationship between the
management, staff and students of OAU had remained cordial, thereby
facilitating smooth academic programmes in the university.
He implored the graduands to be courageous in the world
filled with twist and turns, bumpy hills, crossroads and many dead ends, adding
that they should be good ambassadors of the citadel of intellectualism.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope
Ogunbodede, disclosed that the university was currently reviewing the
curricular of all academic programmes, in line with current developments and
standards.
Ogunbodede added that emphasis was being placed on training
job creators and not mere job seekers.
He informed the gathering that the university would no
longer be dependent on the national grid, as it would soon generate its own
electricity, among other innovations.
(NAN)