President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday advised all public universities to access the N1.3tr made available through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to improve the quality of education in the country.
Jonathan, who is also Visitor to the Federal University of Technology, Minna, gave the advice at 24th Convocation Ceremony of the institution, held at the main campus, Gidan Kwano.
The President was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie.
He said, “Government has, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, made provision for the sum of N1.3tr to be disbursed to all public universities to improve on the quality of university education with regards to infrastructural and personnel development.
“I, therefore, urge the management of this university to ensure the judicious use of its allocation from the intervention fund to enhance FUT, Minna.”
He lamented the challenge of unemployment as the daily reality of many graduates, urging public universities to include entrepreneurial education in the undergraduate curricula.
“We have also followed this up with such intervention projects as the Graduate Internship Scheme, Youth Enterprise with innovation (YouWin) and other opportunities through the National Directorate of Employment.”
The Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Prof. Rufa’I Alkali, said the Federal Government had positioned the Bank of Industry, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria as well as micro finance banks to help develop small businesses that would reduce unemployment in the country.
Alkali commended the Federal Government for the N2.7bn allocation to the university under the Needs Assessment intervention to address the challenges of accommodation, provision of water, laboratories, workshop and equipment.
Source: PunchNg
