Tinubu Vows To Strengthen Nigeria’s Education Foundation
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s education sector, emphasizing that quality education will remain a top priority for his administration. Speaking at the 9th convocation ceremony of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, where 8,444 graduates received their degrees, including 177 first-class graduates, the president expressed his commitment to ensuring that education is accessible to all Nigerians.
In his address, Tinubu, represented by Professor Adebayo Bamire, Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, highlighted the government’s efforts to enhance the educational foundation, including strategic funding and effective policies. He underscored the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which offers financial assistance to students pursuing higher education, benefiting over 300,000 students across public universities in Nigeria.
Additionally, Tinubu discussed the recent decision to remove public tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), granting universities more autonomy in managing their payroll and personnel records. The president assured that the policy of automatic deductions from universities’ internally generated revenue would continue to support the growth of tertiary institutions.
Congratulating the graduates, Tinubu encouraged them to apply the knowledge and skills gained in school to positively impact society. He reassured them of his administration’s ongoing investment in job creation and entrepreneurship development, which will support their future aspirations.
During the convocation, the university conferred honorary degrees on four distinguished Nigerians: Chief Adebayo Ojo (SAN), Kanu Agabi (SAN), Segun Alebiosu, and Dr. Allen Onyema, recognizing their exceptional contributions to various fields.
The convocation lecture was delivered by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, who highlighted challenges facing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, including inadequate funding, poor leadership, and insecurity. Echono emphasized the importance of university autonomy for academic, administrative, and financial freedom.
In their remarks, the Pro-Chancellor of FUOYE, Senator Victor Edoma-Egba, and former Senator Ayo Arise praised the university’s remarkable progress in academics, sports, and community engagement. They urged the government to introduce policies that will elevate Nigerian universities to global standards.
FUOYE’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence and national development, noting the university’s growth in infrastructure and its increasing prominence among Nigerian institutions.
