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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that his government’s economic policies will soon yield the desired positive results,
despite the difficulties currently being experienced by the people.
President Tinubu made the appeal in Zaria on Saturday while speaking at the 43rd convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where 25,432 students graduated with various degrees.
Represented by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, the president said, the policies seem difficult, but the desired positive outcomes would soon happen.
“I will like to solicit for understanding and support of Nigerians towards the government’s economic reform programmes in spite of the difficulties involved. We are very much hopeful that these policies will yield the desired results in no distant future.”
Speaking on the role of universities to national development, President Tinubu recalled the Ahmadu Bello University among other Nigerian universities had contributed immensely to research and development, hence the need for them to partner industries and entrepreneurs to commercialise their ideas.
He also called on the graduates to go out and be job creators and not job seekers, adding that opportunities available to them were limitless and open to them to conquer.
According to the president, “universities are known as citadels of research and innovation, which provide the necessary ingredients for development of societies. Ahmadu Bello University enjoys an enviable status in its contribution to research and innovation especially in the areas of Agriculture, Medicine, Engineering among others.
“I therefore, urge the university to publicise its researches and collaborate with industries and entrepreneurs for commercialising such ideas.
“Today, the higher education sector is witnessing tremendous growth, internalization and impact, from globalisation. This is facilitated in part by partnerships, collaborations and the use of information and communication technology.
“The initiative of the university in developing a regional and internationalisation policy aimed at attracting international staff and students, is a right step in the right direction. The Federal Government is complementing these pragmatic efforts through its resent approval of transnational education in Nigeria.
“This policy allows universities and investors abroad to set up institutions within Nigeria, owned by them or collaborate and partner existing Nigerian institutions.
“Gone are the days when Nigeria is bottle-lapped in the areas of knowledge and cooperation. Overall, therefore, this gives Nigerians access to quality education based on global standards and also saves foreign exchange.
“On our part, this government acknowledges the critical roles of tertiary institutions to achieving the aims of this government to place the nation on the path of development. We will continue to support the institutions with suitable policies and resources that will facilitate its roles.
“Our students will also enjoy such support such as the students’ loans that we have now expanded to cater for those pursuing skills-based courses, in addition to those in the universities,” he said
While congratulating the graduating students, the president told them to use the knowledge they had acquired for societal development to justify the resource expended on your studies. “You are therefore expected to be job creators, rather than job seekers. The opportunities available are limitless and open to you to conquer.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Chancellor of the University and the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe commended the Federal Government for removing the federal universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), adding that the decision would go a long way in guaranteeing the autonomy of the universities.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kabiru Bala said of the 25,432 graduating with various degrees, 647 bagged PhD, 5,167 Masters, 40 MPhil while 955 bagged Post Graduate diplomas.
He also disclosed that, out of 11,916 graduates with Bachelor’s degrees, 182 earned First Class degrees, 3,902 earned second class upper degrees, while 11,552 graduated with second class (lower division).
In attendance at the convocation ceremony were governors of Kaduna and Zamfara states, Senator Uba Sani and Dauda Lawal, Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, among others.
