As part of efforts to revamp tertiary education in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, over the weekend approved the disbursement of N208 billion to federal universities for infrastructural development.
The fund which was approved under the 2019 intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) is to address the deficiencies in all the segments of the nation's educational system.
While making the disclosure, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono who represented the President during the convocation ceremony of the University of Abuja revealed that the President who is the Visitor to the school had tasked the university system to search for solutions to the nation’s developmental needs.
Buhari stressed that the ability of Nigeria with its huge population to overcome its present challenges of development no longer depends on petroleum resources but on the ability of the country to develop its human capital.
The present administration will according to him, continue to improve on the infrastructural facilities in the universities, promote teacher development and curriculum review, among others.
“It is in furtherance of this that I recently approved the disbursement of N208 billion to public tertiary institutions under the 2019 intervention of the TETFUND.
Buhari noted that his administration would continue to look into the issues raised by the universities, especially regarding physical development and will equally monitor the universities closely.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof Michael Adikwu, noted that 4,946 students graduated from the institution with 24 first-class, 982 Second Class Upper and 2,498 Second Class lower degrees in the 2017/2018 academic session.
A total of 68 have doctoral degrees while 233 were awarded master’s degrees.”