FG Releases N230bn for Allowances, Projects in Varsities The federal government at the weekend said over N230 billion has been released by the government in the last one year to all federal universities across the country to clear all arrears of earned allowances due for various categories of staff and as special intervention for capital projects to the universities. President Goodluck Jonathan said this during the combined 25th and 26th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure ( FUTA). Jonathan, who was represented by Prof. Azikwe Nwala from the National Universities Commission, said Nigerian universities are powerful instruments towards the attainment of the nation’s Vision 20: 20: 20 based on their critical roles in the production of adequate and high quality manpower which is an essential ingredients for the actualisation of the vision. He said this was one of the reasons his government was doubling its efforts towards the achievement of national technological breakthroughs through increased interventions and other financial empowerment to these institutions. The Visitor therefore urged all the educational institutions to reciprocate government gestures by ensuring the fulfillment of their mandate saying to whom much is given, much is expected. The president noted and commended the leadership of FUTA for the transformation in infrastructure upgrade and improvements in the teaching and learning environment saying this had ranked the institution among the top 10 universities in the country. “I am not unaware of FUTA rise in global ranking, now coming among the best 100 universities in Africa and among the top 10 in Nigeria. I have information that all academic programmes of this university are accredited by the NUC and appropriate professional bodies. “All these attainments surely place FUTA ahead of most of Nigerian universities and indeed make it the technological pride of our dear country. It is on this note that I salute the past and present leadership of this university who have all laboured selflessly to place the university on a platform of steadiness for global competitiveness.” Speaking during the convocation ceremony, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola said FUTA had been able to make landmark achievements in all areas of its teaching, research and community service in the last two years, saying the school ranked as the ninth best university in Nigeria and among the best 80 universities in Africa. He disclosed that following Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the institution and some foreign institutions, some students from FUTA will now spend their final year abroad in some of the institutions under a special collaboration and student exchange programmes. Two prominent Nigerians were bestowed with honorary degrees which include Chief Afe Babalola and. Alhaji Bashari Aminu. The institution’s Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Mohammed Shaba, described the two recipients as worthy Nigerians worthy of the honour bestowed on them saying “Aminu, a distinguished and detribalised Nigerian has served in many public and private concerns in the country. Babalola, a legal luminary of international repute has also contributed immensely to legal and academic progress of the nation,” he said.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:27:40 +0000
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