President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday, warned that his administration will not condone indiscipline and financial recklessness in tertiary institutions.
He, therefore, called on the nation’s university administrators to be prudent in the management of funds accruing to them.
Jonathan, who made the call while speaking at the 44th Convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) said universities must make concrete efforts to supplement government funding by generating their own resources.
“Although, this government is committed to the development of the universities, there is need to state in clear and unequivocal terms, that government should not expected to take hundred percent responsibility of financing public tertiary institutions”, he added.
According to him, “We have improved condition of service, ensured internal autonomy of our universities, and guaranteed that state-of- the-art infrastructure are put in place and painstakingly maintained”.
The President whose address was read by the Minister of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Shakarawu stressed that his administration had in the past six years, committed several billions of Naira to improve infrastructure, training, re- training and research in nation’s public institutions, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
On UNN, the Visitor to the university said he was overwhelmed over the progress so far made in the institution, adding that it had continued to adhere to the philosophy of the founding fathers, especially with the enviable mandate of restoring the divinity of man.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, said that “the university is keeping her commitment to excellence and has identified significant individuals whose contributions go in tandem with her goals and aspirations, and whose superlative achievements sing the song of apocalypse in the aler of world achievement”
The high point of the occasion was the awards of honorary doctorate degrees and Professor Emeritus to some prominent Nigerians.
Among the awardees were the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Lady Valeria Azinge, Mr. Ojenukwu Augustine Avuru, Dr Musa Babayo. Professors Paul Akubue and P, N Okeke.
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