By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said his government was planning to build more infrastructures in universities as part of ongoing interventions to boost education in the country.
Buhari gave the assurance in Port Harcourt, at the 33rd combined Convocation Ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
He said education was key to national development, and as such, his administration was working hard to reverse the challenges encountered in the sector.
“So, my government is in the forefront of hard thinking and readiness to push the frontiers of learning through the various levels of education in the country.
“For this reason, TETFUND and NEEDS assessment programmes of the Federal Government have placed a keen watch for learning equipment and resources.
“All over the world universities are known to be catalysts of national development, hence our commitment to bring development and growth in our universities.
Represented by Prof. Eniofiok Essien, former Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Buhari said UNIPORT was among the universities that had excelled in the country.
“Some years ago, the government approved rehabilitation projects for university hostels and classroom blocks in UNIPORT.
“My government is still keen on ensuring that the rot and decay of several decades are reversed in terms of infrastructural intervention.
“The university’s programmes of study have multiplied ten fold, and are responding to the challenges of our crying need for development.
The president said the establishment of Federal University in each of the 36 states meant that youths now have academic ‘role models’ to look up to in their localities.
He called on universities to play a mentorship role through sensitization and enlightenment, to become an agent of positive change in the country.
Earlier, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT said that 19,526 students who graduated from various departments and faculties were drawn from 2018 to 2020 academic sessions.
He said that 9,439 students graduated with bachelor’s degrees with 159 obtaining First Class, while 9,678 received Post-Graduate Diplomas (PGD) certificates.
“In the post graduate category, 1007 will receive the Doctor of Philosophy degree while 3,745 graduates will receive Master degree award in several specializations.
“The specializations include Faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Education, Engineering, Management Sciences; College of Health Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
“Also, a total of 4,926 will be awarded the Post Graduate Diploma degrees with 207 Distinctions, 1,874 Upper Credits, 2,646 Lower Credits and 199 Merit for the two academic sessions,” he added.
The vice chancellor described UNIPORT as a huge intellectual laboratory and centre of excellence that has produced both intellectuals and leaders in every sector of the nation’s economy.
