Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
President Bola Tinubu has challenged Institutions of higher learning to embark on innovative research that will provide solutions to the myriads of problems confronting the society, to make education more affordable and accessible to Nigerians.
President Tinubu gave the charge in a message to the combined 34th and 35th Convocation of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State.
Represented by Mr. Usoro Dickson of the Federal Ministry of Education, President Tinubu called on tertiary institutions to look inwards, prioritise solution-driven researches while leveraging on technology, noting that the only way out of the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s economy remains home-grown solutions.
He reiterated that his administration would re-equip universities to make them catalysts for national growth and expressed the optimism that the ongoing review of curricula of all programmes offered in Nigerian universities would make them more competitive and responsive to modern realities.
The Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology Owerri, Professor Nnenna Oti, said the upgrade of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, to a teaching hospital of the University would boost learning and provide solutions to the health needs of the people.
The Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN Dr. Mohammed Bulama, represented at the occasion by the Zonal Director FRCN South-East Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said the number of students that graduated with first class honours was an indication that hard-work pays and called on the university authority to key into the policy direction of the government to reposition the education sector.