President Bola Tinubu has expressed the federal government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the education foundation for the benefit of all.
The president also stated that his administration recognises the importance of quality education, and is committed to ensuring that education remains accessible to all Nigerians through strategic funding and pragmatic policies.
Tinubu stated these at the weekend at the 9th convocation ceremonies of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, (FUOYE), Ekiti State, where a total 8,444 graduands were awarded with various degrees of the university with 177 of them bagging first class.
At the event, four eminent Nigerians were conferred with the university’s honourary degrees.
They include two former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Chief Adebayo Ojo, (SAN), Doctor of Public Law (Honoris Causa); Kanu Agabi (SAN), Doctor of Private Law (Honoris Causa); Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr Segun Alebiosu, Doctor of Banking and Finance (Honoris Causa), and Chairman, Air peace Airline, Dr Allen Onyema who was honoured with Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa).
President Tinubu who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Adebayo Bamire, noted that the government had initiated various policies and programmes to boost tertiary education.
He stated that such is the Act that established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which was designed to provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in tertiary institutions.
While emphasising the need for Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions to acknowledge their critical role to knowledge creation, he disclosed that over 300,000 students in the public universities at both federal and state across six geo-political zones are already benefitting from the initiative.
He noted this as part of the response to myriads of challenges facing the educational sector, particularly tertiary education.
On the recent removal of public tertiary institutions from Integrated, Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the president said the decision was made to grant the institutions greater autonomy in managing their payroll and personnel information.
“Also, government after considering the submissions of key stakeholders in the educational sector, has retained the policy of automatic deductions of 40 percent deductions from universities internally generated revenue.
“This decision is a clear demonstration of the government wisdom to create an enabling environment for higher education institutions to thrive,” he said.
Congratulating the graduands on their accomplishment, Tinubu charged them to translate the knowledge, skills and attitude acquired from the esteemed institution into practical contribution to the society.
“I urge you to let this foundation serve as the cornerstone for your promising future. Be assured, that this administration remains steadfast in its efforts to invest in job creation, entrepreneurship development to support your aspirations”.
Delivering the convocation lecture, titled: “University Autonomy and the Challenge of Quality Tertiary Education In Nigeria”, the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono highlighted some factors militating against quality tertiary in Nigeria to include inadequate funding, lack of essential resources, poor leadership in tertiary education, inadequate quality teaching staff, insecurity, brain drain syndrome, cultism, among others.
Echono said the desirability of university autonomy finds expression in academic, administrative and financial autonomy.
In their separate remarks, Pro-Chancellor of the University, Senator Victor Edoma-Egba and former federal lawmaker, Senator Ayo Arise said the university has grown in leaps and bounds, favourably competing with older universities in sports, academic ranking and community services.
Edoma-Egba called on the federal government to further introduce and implement economic concessions that will elevate Nigerian universities to a globally competitive standards.
In his address, FUOYE VC, Prof. Abayomi Fasina said the university is committed to its vision of being a leading institution in academic excellence, community engagement and national development since its establishment in 2011.
Fasina added that aside from academics, the university is also developing infrastructures and has become a force to reckoned with among universities in the country.
