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By Madu Obi
The president and Commander in Chief of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has said that his administration would use the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, to improve facilities in the country's tertiary institutions to create a conducive environment for learning and research.
The president made the pledge during the 17th convocation ceremony of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka for the conferment of honorary and higher degrees. His address was read by the director of higher education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Rekiyya Iliyasu.
According to the president, the federal government is not unaware of the challenges facing the country's higher educational institutions, particularly the universities, assuring that his administration has started addressing the situation strategically and holistically.
He said: "Many cogent plans are being developed by this government for the education sector, especially the university sub-sector."
"Efforts are being made to address the infrastructural and human capital deficits in tertiary education through the instrumentality of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)."
"TETFund has been strengthened to remain the major funding source for physical infrastructural development, staff development, promotion of research and innovation and education support services to all public tertiary institutions in the country."
He reminded the graduands that life outside the university goes well beyond acquiring certificates.
The president added: "We live in an age of rapid changes in all fields of human endeavour, with breath-taking information explosion and intense competition among nations, and among individuals for a share of the markets, finance, employment and manpower.
These challenges and competitions do present opportunities in every sphere of life. These call for resilience and persistence in lawful undertakings.
"I am not unaware that you were delayed by the unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant lockdown, as well as the staff union's industrial actions, but through it all, you were undaunted."
"It is my desire that the incessant industrial actions will soon become a thing of the past. Our government will, therefore, do everything within its power to ensure a harmonious relationship between government and the union."
10,707 people graduated from the institution during the convocation. The breakdown shows that 6000 received first degrees, 3300 received postgraduate diplomas, 807 got Masters, while 600 obtained doctorate degrees.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Charles Esimone said that not withstanding the disruptions in academic and administrative activities of the nation's universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University has continued to improve on the welfare of staff.
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