FG Releases N3.5bn for Takeoff for Federal Varsity

 

Speaking at the first matriculation ceremony of the university, Rufai explained that N1.5 billion was the provision of facilities at the temporary campus, while N2 billion would go to the development of the permanent site.

She said the bill legalising the nine recently established federal universities would soon be signed into law by the president.

They are Federal University, Dutse, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Federal University, Lafia, Federal University, Lokoja, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike-Ikwo, Ebonyi, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State and Federal University,  Wukari, Taraba.  

The minister said that approval had also been given for the physical master plan of the university, adding that ``no meaningful development can be achieved without education."

She disclosed that 2,391 students had been matriculated by eight of the new universities.

Earlier, Kogi Deputy Gov Yomi Awoniyi said that the state was ready to take its rightful place in education with the ongoing restructuring in the sector.

He said that the restructuring programme was occasioned by years of neglect of the sector which had led to the screening and discovery of ghost teachers and schools.

Awoniyi urged the new University to complement the state, saying that government intended to use the new institution as a research centre for the transformation and development of the state.

In an address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulmumuni Rafindadi, said the institution had zero tolerance for examination malpractice, cultism and other social vices.

In a matriculation lecture entitled ``State of the Education in Nigeria Today'',Dr George Kwanashi noted the flaws in the nation’s educational system and called for a change.

He called for policy consistency and improved facilities, improved teaching and learning materials and professionalism as solutions to the problems.

A total of 443 students in three faculties were matriculated at the ceremony.