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.
