President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasized his administration's commitment to transforming education into a central driver for Nigeria's growth and development. The President made this declaration during the 36th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where he stressed the need for a more robust and globally competitive educational system.
Blueprint for Educational Revitalization
President Tinubu revealed that a comprehensive blueprint has been developed to rapidly revitalize university education across Nigeria. This plan aims to address persistent challenges within the Nigerian university system while positioning institutions for global competitiveness.
Represented by Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the President commended FUTA for its significant contributions to indigenous technology development. The institution has been instrumental in building the human capital required to drive Nigeria's industrial and digital transformation agenda.
Graduates Urged to Explore Agricultural Opportunities
The convocation ceremony witnessed 2,747 graduates receiving their degrees, with an impressive 240 students achieving First Class honors. President Tinubu specifically encouraged the graduating class to explore abundant opportunities within the agricultural sector for job creation and economic participation.
"We are committed to policies that strengthen education, promote research funding, and foster collaborations between universities and industries," the President stated. He further highlighted that his administration is actively pursuing digital economy initiatives, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure development—all creating new avenues for graduates to contribute meaningfully to national growth.
FUTA's Academic Expansion and UNIMED's Medical Induction
Professor Adenike Oladiji, Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, outlined the university's recent achievements, attributing their success to harmonious industrial relations and federal government support. She announced that following successful resource verification, NUC has approved several new programs including Nursing Sciences, Financial Technology, Procurement Management, and Environmental Management.
In a related development, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) inducted 72 new doctors into the medical and dental professions. Guest lecturer Professor Frank Imarhiagbe from the University of Benin advised the new medical practitioners to navigate their career paths carefully, emphasizing that hard work, counseling, and guidance are crucial for success in medical practice.
UNIMED Vice-Chancellor Professor Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe charged the newly inducted doctors to uphold professional ethics and maintain humanity as the centerpiece of their practice. Adding to this, Chief Medical Director of UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Dr. Michael Gbala, promised immediate employment opportunities for any of the new doctors willing to accept positions at the teaching hospital.
