TINUBU TASKS NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES ON DEMAND – DRIVEN RESEARCH FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH

President Bola Tinubu has tasked Nigerian universities to undertake demand-driven research to aid industrial growth and development in the country. Tinubu made the call at the combined convocation ceremony of Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) held on Saturday October 12, 2024.

Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko-Sununu, assured that the Federal Government was working to make education more accessible to Nigerians. He also urged universities to partner with industries to explore outcomes of research to facilitate national development. He described education as very important in the life of every individual.

The president said: “Recognising this, the federal government is working tirelessly to ensure that education is more accessible to as many Nigerians as possible under the favourable policies of the government.

”The government is not unaware of infrastructural deficit in the education sector, particularly in the universities. Given this, deliberate and sincere efforts are being made to address these challenges in order to guarantee the provision of quality education.

”It is in this regard that this administration has increased budgetary allocation to education because of the importance it attached to the sector.”

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, said 3,373 graduands had been awarded with degrees in various fields of endeavours covering the five academic sessions. He, however, lamented the unfenced land at the main campus, inadequate transport to university campuses as major challenges faced by the institution.

”The nature of the fence has subjected the university to encroachment by people and animals, and in many places to the stealing of wires by unscrupulous elements. The lingering dispute with the host community over part of the land has also been worrisome. Any effort to assist in safeguarding the university from potential threat shall be warmly welcomed,” the VC said.