President Muhammadu Buhari on
Saturday said Federal Government would invest more in education at all levels,
especially in Science, Technology and Vocational Education and Training
(STVET).
Buhari, represented by Executive
Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed,
stated this at the 9th Combined Convocation of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa,
Nasarawa State.
He said that his administration
would continue to pursue its objectives until it laid a solid foundation for a
viable nation which every Nigerian would be proud of.
The president said that he would
continue to work with honesty, integrity and dedication to change the fortunes
of the country for the benefit of Nigerians, particularly the less-privileged
in urban and rural areas.
He commended the management of the
polytechnic and the council headed by Prof. Godwin Sogolo for promoting peaceful
atmosphere conducive for teaching and research.
He urged the graduating students
and other eminent citizens conferred with fellowship of the institution to
support his administration in charting a new course for the nation.
“Together, we can work to reinvent
our country and negotiate a better tomorrow for all.
“I urge the good people of the
Nasarawa State and all other Nigerians to always support the course of peace
and harmony in the country, which is the only viable path of progress and
prosperity for our people,” Buhari said.
Earlier, the Minister of
Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had said that government was making all necessary
investments in human and material terms, to ensure that Nigeria’s tertiary
institutions were ranked among the league of global institutions.
Adamu explained that efforts were
being made through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and other
sources to upgrade tertiary institutions in academic and infrastructure
development.
He commended the Acting Rector of
the polytechnic, Malam Abdullahi Alhassan, and the Management team for
restoring stability, peace and order to the institution.
“I am aware that this polytechnic
is a peaceful one. It is to the credit of the acting Rector and the entire polytechnic
community that they have been able to arrest the drift and ensure stability in
the institution.
“I urge him and his team to
redouble efforts at ensuring that the order prevailing on this campus is
sustained,” he said.
In his speech, the Rector, Alhassan,
commended Buhari for his continued support to take the polytechnic to its
present state.
He said “we remain most
appreciative and pray that we will continue to get more support through the
various interventions of TETFUND.”
Alhassan, however, decried
inadequate funding which had slowed down activities in certain key areas of
operations, including the procurement of equipment and provision of
highly-needed classrooms, laboratories, studios, staff offices among others.
‘While we passionately appeal to the
Federal Government to assist the polytechnic in this area, we are equally
soliciting from well-meaning individuals, organisations and corporate bodies to
assist us, through the Private Public Partnership Policy of the Federal
Government.”
Four distinguished Nigerians were
conferred with the Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa (FFPN).
The recipients were Gov. Tanko
Al-Makura, Alhaji Buba Ahmed, former Minister of Sports; Chief Ikechi Emenike,
a philanthropist and Sen. Abubakar Sodangi.
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