By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, has appealed to the Federal Government to step up budgetary allocations to Universities, describing current funding as grossly inadequate.
Ndaeyo who made the call at the combined convocation ceremony of the University last weekend in Uyo said increased students’ population has made it look as if FG best remained grossly inadequate.
The convocation ceremony witnessed the conferment of 14,866 persons with Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Post Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree, Doctor of Philosophy,PHD, and three eminent Nigerians with Honorary Doctorate Degree including former Super Eagles Captain and Goal Keeper, Vincent Enyeama who got doctorate degree of Philosophy in human Kinetics and Physical education with focus in football.
According to the VC,”the FG has done its best in the aspect of funding tertiary education in the country, but this best is still grossly inadequate considering the ever-increasing population of students.
‘I therefore appeal most passionately to the federal government of Nigeria through the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to kindly step up the annual budgetary allocations to Education, particularly to universities.”
He called on the federal government to particularly revisit the issue of non-payment of takeoff to the University of Uyo, more than 30 years the institution was established.
“In the particular case of the University of Uyo, our request for a revisiting of the take off grant issue remains a fervent prayer which we will not cease presenting to the federal government unless and until it is hearkened to, and implemented to give us the much needed financial muscle.” Ndaeyo said.
He appreciated the federal government for the release of four out of the eight months withheld salaries of staff of Federal Universities, calling on the President to release entire withheld salaries adding that such gesture would greatly boast the morale of staff.
He listed challenges of the institution to include erosion and insecurity among others and called on spirited organizations and government to come to the aid of the University.
In his address the Chancellor of the University Alh. (Dr) Abubakar Adamu Maje, congratulated the granduands for their successes and urged them to be innovative, creative and resourceful in the face of limited white collar jobs.
The speech which was read by Ndaeyo, the chancellor who is also the Emir of Hedeja and chairman Jigawa State Council of Chiefs. called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s led administration in its efforts to transform the country.
” I hereby called on all to support the present federal government which is just few months in office but with great promises to transform Nigeria into a destination of developments” Maje said.
A total of 14,866 granduands received various degrees for the combined sessions comprising of 2017/2018, 2018/2019,2019/2020 at undergraduate and post graduate levels.
A break shows that 475 bagged doctorate degrees, 1, 389 received master degrees while 808 were confered with Post graduate diplomas.
At the undergraduate level 11, 795 got bachelors, 318 had diplomas while 81 received certificates amounting to 14, 866.
