President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that more universities and other tertiary institutions have been factored into the Federal Government’s plans for increased funding to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts globally.
Tinubu, who disclosed this during the 35th Convocation Ceremony of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED) Ondo, said; “It is worthy of mention that my administration is making conscious efforts to align with staff-based unions in universities to stem the tide of incessant industrial actions.”
The President, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Adebayo Bamire, noted that the Federal Government’s approval of the upgrading of four foremost Colleges of Education—Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo; Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education; Federal College of Education, Kano; and Federal College of Education, Zaria—to Federal Universities of Education, was aimed at expanding opportunities for graduates of the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE), who apply yearly for direct entry admission into universities.
The Visitor to the University commended principal officers and staff for undertaking the herculean task of transforming the institution from a College of Education to a University.
He said, “It is also my pleasure to extend glowing appreciation to the Governing Council, Management, and Senate of the University for deeming it fit to host this Convocation when many institutions are grappling with acute scarcity of resources.
“It is noteworthy that this is the Federal Government’s first attempt at such an upgrade. As expected, emerging challenges have arisen. However, there is no problem without a solution. We are taking the bull by the horns to address these challenges head-on and resolve them.”
Tinubu, while congratulating the graduands said; “No doubt, you are to be celebrated for persevering to successfully complete your various programmes. Congratulations to you all.
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“You must now imbibe creativity, resilience, impulsion, and spontaneity. Be open and sensitive to the myriad of opportunities around you which you can harness and capitalise on to carve a niche for yourself in the field you have laboured in.”
In her address, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of AFUED, Ganiyat Adeola Yusuf, lauded President Tinubu’s commitment to revamping the nation’s economy, improving tertiary education, and launching the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which she said has provided invaluable support to Nigerian youths.
She affirmed the Governing Council’s commitment to supporting the national vision encapsulated in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pledging to continue to offer its best as the supervisory body of the University.
“As we continue in our development phase, I call on the Federal Government to assist AFUED in building essential infrastructure to expand academic offerings and to fast-track the release of the University’s start-up fund.
“The transition from Adeyemi College of Education to Adeyemi Federal University of Education is no small feat, and your continued support is crucial.”
While Samuel Akintunde, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, disclosed that a total of 12,556 graduands were being conferred with first degrees, while 6,269 were being awarded the Nigerian Certificate in Education. A further 1,501 graduands, he said, would receive Diplomas in Computer Science.
