By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has implored upon the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi to as a technology based institution come up with workable solutions to the Nigerian technology challenges.
The President noted that ATBU and it’s sister institutions have what it takes to come to the rescue, hence the country awaits it’s positive response to the solutions it so desired to be innovative and competitive.
Tinubu in a message to the ATBU’s 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th combined convocation ceremony weekend in Bauchi, sa’id that he has no doubt in mind that the Nigerian academics will be on the new train to revamp the country’s economy and it’s national pride.
He therefore tasked graduands of the institution to shun laziness, stand up on their feet, and strive towards being self-reliant, as their much needed energy and amount of sacrifice they put in will greatly determine the level of success they will achieve in building and taking the country to greater heights.
“The World is changing very fast. Knowledge is being shared faster and discoveries are at the doorstep of many yearning economies across the globe. The era of shelving research discoveries is over”, he told the 19, 252 graduands that comprised 404 diplomas, 15, 460 first degrees, 1, 653 post graduate diploma, 1, 559 Masters and 176 PhDs.
He added, “I encourage you to pay renewed attention to establishing technology villages in your communities to enable a platform where your theoretical finds can blend with the interested productive sector for the benefit of our small and medium scale or cottage industries”.
Tinubu assured that his administration will give all necessary support to genuine entrepreneurs and small scale industry operators in the country to help in oiling the economy, stressing the need for government to invest in education, especially in research to ensure that graduates remain competitive in the repetitively changing World.
Tinubu urged the university to intensify it’s collaborative efforts with universities across the world in order to cross-fertilize research ideas and it’s pursuit for the benefit of the country, saying “I’m aware of the landmark achievements Nigerian acedemics have recorded in the areas of research on science and technology.
He noted with dismay the gradual encroachment of fake degree certificates being acquired by some unpatriotic Nigerians from unscrupulous institutions abroad, and warned that a machinery has been set in motion to bring the unwholesome trend to an end, and those henceforth found engage in it to face the music.
The president assured that his administration is steadily and conscientiously studying the education, including tertiary sub-sector with a view to finding a formidable blueprint for achieving greater success in service delivery.
Turning to the frequent strike actions by staff unions in the Nigerian University system that witnessed untold harsh situations over the years, the President said that government will address some of the root causes of strikes to bring to an end the wanton disruptions of academic calendar and waste of time in the institutions.
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