President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, said there were no easy solutions to the myriads of socio-economic and political problems facing Nigeria.
He also said the federal government was aware of the challenges plaguing tertiary education and declared that they were not insurmountable.
He first spoke weekend at the 12th Convocation ceremony of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike(MOUAU), Abia State.
The second time he spoke was at the combined 34th and 35th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
While he was represented by the Director (Extension) in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Deola-Tayo Lordbanjou, at the first event, he was represented by the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, at the other occasion.
The president said his administration “inherited socio-economic and political problems that are gradually being addressed.”
According to him, “Our nation’s problems are diverse and deep-rooted, but we are strongly determined to confront them”, noting that, “We are making significant progress despite the myriads of interlinked challenges bedevilling our country.”
He acknowledged “the difficulties our citizens are passing through” due to the implementation of his economic policies, but he insisted that there was no going back as the end would eventually justify the means.
“We have accepted the challenge of confronting our problems. With great determination, we are vigorously evolving sound policies, swiftly fine-tuning and strategically re-aligning them to deal firmly with the root causes of the problems.
“There are no easy fixes for these problems, but I do not doubt that our people will gladly rejoice when these measures are implemented,” Tinubu said.
He cited the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, saying, “painful as it may be at the beginning, (it remains) the key to our energy security and a catalyst for investment in that sector.
“Healthy competition would ultimately be to the advantage of the consumer and at no cost for the poor. We are committed to these measures and to the overall development of our nation.”
Tinubu, who is the Visitor to MOUAU, said the policy of establishing Universities of Agriculture was “well thought-out and properly planned to make our country self-sufficient in food production.
“As a nation, we are looking up to the universities to innovatively drive the transformation of our agricultural sector to achieve food security, diversify the economy and broaden the base for industrialisation,” he said.
At the FUTA combined convocation, he called on the organised private sector to collaborate with research institutions across the country with a view to develop and replicate research outputs for the benefits of citizens and improvement of the economy.
“Government is not unaware of the challenges facing our higher educational institutions. I want to use this opportunity to assure all Nigerians that our government is making concerted efforts to address the situation holistically.
“My government would not shirk its responsibilities in this regard. We will ensure that educational institutions get their dues in order to function effectively and efficiently. I know for a fact that stability of academic calendar is key to growth and development of educational institutions.
“I have no doubt that we can achieve stability in the University academic calendar if we come together as critical stakeholders. However, this cannot be achieved unless a peaceful industrial harmony is provided, and purposeful and participatory governance fostered.
“At this juncture, I would like to implore all the unions in our universities to cooperate with the government in order to deliver the needed development by ensuring an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity on our campuses. On our part, we will ensure that incentives are emplaced for improved productivity.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to appeal to all our students not to allow themselves to be used by trouble makers. I charge you all to resist every attempt to manipulate you to disrupt academic calendar. A five-year course should be five years,” he said.
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo and Fidelis David
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