Federal government approves upgrade of universities

Federal government approves upgrade of universities

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the implementation of recommendations of an investigative report on the upgrade of physical standards of all public universities owned by both the Federal and States government.

This was made known by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, during an official presentation of the 2012 Federal Ministry of Education Annual Report, which held at the National Universities Commission, Abuja.

The Vice President said the recommendations were reviewed earlier by the National Economic Council, adding that, “This is to ensure that our higher institutions of learning maintain the best of facilities and resources. We must be in a position to produce graduates with the skills and competences to compete at the world stage.”

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Sani Umar said, while acknowledging the milestones achieved by the President Jonathan-led administration in enhancing qualitative education both at the basic and tertiary level, Sambo urged Nigerians to join hands with government to realise the noble objectives enshrined in the Transformation Agenda.

He said, “Our ability to meet our goals depends largely on patriotism to work together to build a better society for us and our children. Education is one of those areas that are so crucial that our attention must continually focus on. This is because it is an avenue that we can use to change a lot of things socially, politically and economically. We must use the challenges of the past to provide solutions for the future.”

Vice President Sambo commended the Ministry of Education for being the first to submit its annual report as directed by the Presidency and also for diligently implementing its 4-Year Strategic Plan, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s population of about 170 million people to assets for national development.

“I do congratulate the Honourable Minister for not only producing this Annual Report but also for documenting other activities of the Ministry. These publications will definitely be of use to those who seek to find out more about the many activities going on in the sector and, if necessary, apply them to their own work.”

In her remark, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, highlighted the achievements of the ministry in 2012, saying the ministry was committed to transforming the Nigerian education sector. She stated that the ministry would continue to embrace modern technology to improve teaching and learning in all levels of education in the country as well as acknowledging the support of International Development Partners (IDPs) toward repositioning the sector.