President Bola Tinubu has urged all interested parties to work with the government to support the country’s universities.
According to jerrymusa.com The President emphasised that the development of the education sector is not solely the responsibility of the government but rather of all stakeholders.
On Saturday, he issued the plea during his presidential address at FIT’s 32nd Convocation in Akure, Ondo State.
Prof. King-David Yawe, a visiting professor at the National Universities Commission, relayed the President’s message that, due to the capital-intensive nature of higher education, all parties involved, especially in the finance of research, need to work together.
He remarked, “We all know that higher education is expensive. Therefore, all parties involved must do their part to ensure sufficient funding.
Suffice it to say that the government alone cannot accomplish the funding. As a result, I’m appealing to organised private sector operators and international partners to work with our universities and research institutes on research funding and the utilisation of research outputs for national integration and development.
This will have a trickle-down effect on our graduates in the form of reduced costs associated with employee engagement and training, as well as increased value creation, experience, practical education, and exposure.
If we can create a classroom like this, our pupils will be attentive and less likely to engage in disruptive activities. So, in my opinion, the graduates of today have been validated not just for their academic credentials but also for their inherent value.
The President also called on all university-affiliated labour unions to work with the government to ensure a climate of calm and safety on campus in order to bring about the necessary development.
We pledge to do our share by instituting measures designed to boost morale and output. Universities should do their part to improve the quality of the learning environment as the government tries to make it more so. Whoever is given much must also bear great responsibility.
Strike actions aren’t as effective as talking things out, being patient, and actively engaging with people. Discord in the workplace has no positive effects and just serves to delay progress in the classroom.
Therefore, Tinubu argued, “all channels of communication must be investigated and exhausted before strike actions are considered, and then only as a last resort.”
While he was congratulating the graduates, Tinubu reminded the audience that the Student Loan Bill he had recently signed into law would provide interest-free loans to all needy students enrolled in higher institutions, which they may repay whenever they were ready.
No student will be forced to drop out of school due to financial hardship under his administration, he declared, echoing a promise made in his campaign manifesto.
Prof. Adenike Oladiji, Vice Chancellor of FUTA, spoke during the commencement ceremony and asked the graduates to represent the university well.