By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nysome Wike, Minister, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to higher education and national development of the country.
Wike stating that Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda has injected a new life into our university system through landmark interventions that are transforming the landscape of tertiary education.”
The Minister, who stated this at the University of Calabar, UNICAL, after his conferment with the university’s Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law, during the i institution’s 50th anniversary and 37th convocation ceremony, said that the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund ,NELFUND, has provided the needed financial relief to ensure that no student is denied access to quality education because of financial constraints.
In a statement by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike also lauded Mr. President for other interventions like the Students Start-up Innovation and Entrepreneurship Grant, which he said has empowered young minds to translate knowledge into impactful enterprises, and removal of universities from the Integrated Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The FCT Minister noted that the removal of universities from the IPPIS has restored financial autonomy to the institutions and enabled them to function with greater efficiency.
According to Wike, the kind approval for the domiciliation of TETFund Research Funds within the respective institution has equally strengthened the capacity for groundbreaking research and innovation.
“These bold and forward-thinking policies are undoubtedly positioning Nigeria’s university system to meet the demands of the 21st century,” he said.
Expressing his appreciation to the UNICAL authorities for finding him worthy of the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law, the FCT Minister said, the honour was a charge to him to remain steadfast in his contributions to national development, upholding ideals of excellence and service as an inspiration to the next generation.
Wike said; “As I proudly accept this honorary doctorate, I do so with renewed vigor to contribute even more meaningful to the advancement of education, good governance and national development.”
“I am deeply humbled and honored by this recognition. The University of Calabar has written my name in its golden records, and I embrace this moment with great responsibility.”
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