President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian universities to continue to prioritize entrepreneurship education training.
He stated that this would result in a class of graduates who would be trained as job creators in the country.
Buhari made the announcement on Saturday in Calabar, through Mr Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State for Education, at the University of Calabar’s 35th convocation ceremony.
He stated that his administration is committed to meeting legitimate expectations about shaping the future through education.
He praised the University’s entrepreneurship program and the institution’s collaboration with both national and international development partners.
He went on to say that the handshake between the town and the gown was admirable.
“I’d also like to commend the University for its effective collaboration and linkages with other institutions around the world, which will provide students with opportunities for scholarship and research.”
“The achievements in online result handling and management, as well as the daring attempts to create a smart campus, are also commendable.”
“My administration is committed to meeting legitimate expectations about shaping the future through education.”
“As a result, I challenge our universities to continue to emphasize entrepreneurship training so that our graduates can become job creators rather than perpetual job seekers,” he said.
“I also challenge you to work with industries to increase the level of production going on in the country so that we can achieve a diversified economy,” he added.
He stated that his administration’s commitment to the growth of the education sector was evident in various intervention agencies, and as a result, funding was provided in addition to budgetary allocation.
“This is evident in projects such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Needs Assessment in public universities to improve facilities for meaningful research, teaching, and learning.”
“I commend UNICAL’s management for the sustained campaign against cultism, which has resulted in a tremendously peaceful and congenial environment for the healthy academic enterprise over the decades,” he added.
Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of the institution, stated that the university was in desperate need of funds to build a perimeter fence around the water front to prevent crime.
Obi stated that she has made significant progress in repositioning the university since taking office in December 2020 by instituting reforms and providing facilities.
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She stated that the lecture pavilions, office complexes, and two student hostels had all been completed successfully.
“Within a short period of time, we have also completed massive hostel renovations and classroom furnishing, as well as installing solar street lights, resurfacing roads, and constructing flood control drainages.”
“Through the use of Information and Communication Technology resources, we are gradually achieving our smart campus goal,” she said.
Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the institution’s Chancellor, promised to work tirelessly to ensure that the university remains competitive in the global academic community while also being the best university in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The institution’s Pro-Chancellor, retired Gen. Martin Luther-Agwai, stated unequivocally that UNICAL was grossly underfunded.
Luther-Agwai explained that the underfunding was caused in part by a decrease in government funding.
The event’s high point was the awarding of the title of Professor Emeritus to Prof. Patrick Ebong, a University Professor of Endocrinology.
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