President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said his administration plans to shape the future of the country through a three-prong approach of creativity, technology and character.
Buhari who promised better days for Nigeria, noted that character of Nigerians was very important in reformation of the country, a deficit of which would negatively affect whatever idea one may have.
The president, who was the Visitor to the University, spoke through his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the Foundation Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan, the grand finale of the 67th convocation ceremony of the premier university.
Osinbajo identified series of challenges confronting the nation including “infant mortality, extreme poverty, insecurity, climate change, the rabid activities of terrorists, all which he described as monsters which cannot be allowed to prowl the street without being controlled.
He stated that “government is committed to responsive governance and would focus on the ordinary man who daily looks for job. But how many jobs can be generated?
“Our budget will focus on technology, power, transportation, access to solar power, promotion of entrepreneuship small scale businesses. The future of Nigeria is bright. Our nation will yield it’s fruits for her people, make us live decent. By the grace of God, we will succeed,” he added.
On his part ,the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who was installed as the Chancellor of the university, and conferred with the Doctor of Law award, blamed the menace of insecurity created by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North Eastern part of Nigeria partly on the socio-economic factor of Almajiri, which he said must be given an urgent lasting solution.
On the issue of national insecurity, the Sultan said “as we are all aware, for the past several years, the North Eastern part of Nigeria had been embroiled in a serious insurgency which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of our citizenry and displaced over two million of its inhabitants.
“Although flaunting Muslim credentials, the ideology of this group has nothing to do with this noble religion but much to say about their deluded minds and the evil intentions of their sponsors.”
According to him, the spread of the group is also aided by other socio-economic factors which are usually glossed over as we search for solutions to this menace.
“The North-East sub-region harbours one of the largest concentrations of Almajiri, numbering over two and a half million, who are outside the conventional school system,” the Sultan said.
He also mentioned the low educational indices saying this translates into high incidences of relative poverty, with the North-East posting a figure of 76.3% percent
.
“This phenomenon would definitely not augur well for the orderly development of our diverse societies and of our nation”, the Sultan said.
As a way out of this quagmire, the Sultan urged tertiary educational institutions, including the University of Ibadan “to take real and sustainable action to address this sad situation”.
He pointed out that it was the university system that deployed its intellectual energies and resources to find lasting solutions to this problem in several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, over 50 years ago.
“Nothing shall prevent our institutions from doing so if they tackle the issue seriously, sincerely and assiduously”, he said.
At the grand finale of the convocation ceremony, 456 graduands bagged P.hD, and an ex-Vice Chancellor (and now Emeritus Professor) Ayo Banjo was conferred with Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.
Dr. Umar Mustapha, the Pro-Chancellor used the occasion to appreciate the Federal Government “for the release of funds to run and improve Universities in the country”, while pleading for a special funding arrangement for the University of Ibadan.
“This University deserves a special attention because of its very unique position as the oldest University of Nigeria”, he said.
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi called for attitudinal change among Nigerians to make people more interested in being productive, urging the University to look into this to surmount the myriad social challenges the nation is battling with.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were the outgoing Vice Chancellor and newly appointed Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Folorunsho Adewole, the incoming Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, the Minister of Education Professor Anthony Anwukah, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC) Professor Julius Okojie.
Others include His Royal Majesty, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, who was represented by the Elerin Olubadan High Chief Abimbola Ajibola, the Owu Obokhn of Ilesa land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and many other royal fathers.
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