President Bola Tinubu said his government places much premium on education and will not allow anything to truncate the system.
He stated this on Saturday in his speech delivered at the 47th convocation ceremony of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-ife, Osun State.
The president said the students’ loan provided by his administration is accessible and without any encumbrances.
He said his government is focusing on rebuilding the nation, reviving the economy, uniting the people, and righting the wrongs of the past, as he sought Nigerians prayers, support and cooperation in realizing the objectives
He said “let me repeat here for the sake of emphasis that our Government places much premium on education and we have no intention to do anything that will truncate the yearnings of our children to quality education. To buttress our resolve to making education accessible to all, we have provided loans, without any encuberance,to indigent but brilliant students.”
Tinubu who was represented at the occasion by the minister of state, education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu acknowledged the fact that the country is currently faced with socio-polictical and economic challenges which the government is working on how to surmount.
“As a government, we cannot pretend that our nation is currently faced with socio – economic and political challenge, but as you all know, we are trying everything within our means to bring about the good old days when our currency was comfortably at par with its peers in the western nations. It is the determination of this government to revive our economy and ensure the security of lives and property,” he said.
Delivering his speech, the Etsu of Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar averred that a nation’s future depends on its human resources, therefore, the knowledge, skill and capacity of its people are essential to wellbeing, sustainability growth and development.
He however charged the graduands to use the potential and special skills acquired through education to explore the vast opportunities around.
“Therefore your graduation is not the end of your pursuit. It is a new beginning. You have much more to achieve. And although you are entering a vastly different world from the one you expected at the point of entry, it is a world that needs you more than ever before,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire thanked president Tinubu for promising to pay withheld salaries of staff and cancellation of the 40% deduction from IGR.
He said “We thank God for the peace and progress we enjoyed during the last year. We appreciate the government for the continuous support, particularly the current government led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and the Minister of Education.
“Thank you for gradually easing the hook and removing some of the entanglement bedeviling the smooth running of the University among which are the promise of the payment of withheld salaries of staff and cancellation of the 40% deduction from IGR. We also appreciate all stakeholders, particularly our Alumni.”
Prof. Bamire who reeled out some of the progress recorded by the institution also expressed concern about security challenges and diminishing funding capacities of the University.
“We have indeed made a lot of progress as a frontline university in the country in the areas of teaching, research and service delivery. However, I want to inform you that the diminishing funding capacities of the University have hamstrung more development than we would have had.
“Regularly, we have to contend with ensuring a stable power supply by paying the increased electricity charges to the University, fulfilling numerous municipal responsibilities, as well as providing basic equipment and materials needed for classroom teaching and for carrying out ground-breaking research.
“The University believes in our collective responsibilities to sustain the golden image of Great Ife and we will always appreciate the efforts of our alumni, private individuals and organizations for their assistance in capital development and maintenance of facilities.
“We would continue to devise strategies for increasing the Internally Generated Revenue capacities through which we can further cater for our corporate needs while reducing possible wastages/leakages,” he said.
