AGENE GODWIN, Benin
President Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday, disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, will liaise with relevant professionals and bodies to ensure that wastages and leakages in Federal Universities are blocked and perpetrators are brought to book.
President Buhari, also warned management of universities that his ‘government will not fold its arms and watch some unscrupulous elements mismanage the valuable resources meant for the revitalization of the university system and the entire education sector.’
The President issued the warning while presenting his address as Visitor to the University of Benin during the special convocation ceremony for the installation of His Royal Highness Mai Martaba Sarkin Kano, and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammad Sanusi, as the 9th Chancellor of the institution which held in Benin, the Edo State capital.
President Buhari who was represented on the occasion by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, expressed the hope that the measures “will not only halt the rot in our university system but also permanently reserves and place our universities on the path of international competiveness.”
He said the administration was committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the report on the NEEDS assessment in our universities.
“This administration is committed to providing funding for the revitalization of the university system and indeed the entire education sector; and it will not fold its arms and watch some unscrupulous elements mismanage these very valuable resources,” the President said.
He commended the new chancellor on his well deserved appointment and graduands of the university who he noted worked hard in the last few years to meet the university’s requirements in learning and character.
The President stated that the chancellor “symbolizes the spirit, values and norms that define the university as an institution dedicated to the creation of knowledge, its dissemination and for the building and moulding of character.”
The Emir of Kano and new Chancellor, HRH Muhammad Sanusi tasked Nigerians to support and pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in view of the challenges confronting the nation.
He noted that the current economic crisis rocking the country calls for fervent prayers.
“This nation has enough to be thankful of in the last one year we have conducted general elections peacefully. We have a new government that has the opportunity to give this country a new lease of life. However the government is taking office at a time of great difficulties. Oil prices crashed, mismanagement of the past, governance and corruption issues have placed this country economics in a precarious state,” the monarch said.
Describing his appointment as ‘a home coming because the City of Benin has remained a hope for the fledging nation and reminiscence of the culture and tradition of his upbringing’, Sanusi assured members of the university’s Governing Council under the leadership of Senator Dickson Effiong Bob, that he will work to enhance the welfare of staff and management of the university.
“He (Senator Effiong) doesn’t mind me reminding him of the circumstances of which we met. He was in the senate in charge of the welfare of senators and I was at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and he was always coming to beg for salaries in advance.”
“But the real story is that while I was always generous to the senators in giving them their salaries they were always trying to sack me. But I have known him for a long time and I can assure the university that you have him as a Pro- chancellor.”
Earlier in his address, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Faraday Friday Orumwense disclosed that a total of 11, 220 graduands are to participate in the convocation exercise out of which 64 bagged first class, 1671 second class upper, Master’s degree -2212, 382 for doctorate degrees, 1014 for third class, pass (3), diploma 268 and second class lower 4346 respectively.
He, however, lamented the threat of gully erosion within the university community and called for urgent assistance from the government, concerned individuals and organizations to save the institution from the obvious danger.
Prof. Orumwense also raised the alarm over the excesses of surrounding communities that encroach on the university’s land and called for intervention of stakeholders to nip the ugly situation in the bud.
He lauded President Buhari and other agencies for the support towards the growth and development of the institution through TETFund adding that the university management had taken giant leap in infrastructural, peace, staff welfare and sound academic excellence.
Present at the event were eminent personalities including the Oba of Benin represented by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, Speaker Dogara who was represented by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pally Iriase, Otaru of Auchi HRH Ekelebe 111 Alhaji Haliru Momoh, Shehu of Borno , Emir of Gunmi, former Vice chancellor of Uniben Prof. Grace Alele Williams and several others.
