President Muhammadu Buhari, Saturday assured Nigerians that his government was working hard to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. Buhari, disclosed this at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the University of Abuja on Saturday, where he was represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Chinedu Mafiano.
The General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi was awarded an Honourable doctorate degree along with the late Ahmadu Bello University’s historian, Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman and Alhj. Dikko Aliyu, for their contributions to nation building. Felix Jimoh emerged best overall graduating student.
President Buhari said: “My government is working hard to reduce the unemployment rates through several programmes and initiatives including the N-power, agriculture, small and medium scale businesses (SMEs), all of which are supported by government guaranteed loan scheme. I encourage you all to key into any of them for national growth and development.
“Government will devote attention to technical and vocational educational training to impact the necessary skills to our youths in a bid to provide the requisite, competent and reliant personnel that can sustain the nation’s economic activities for the required socio-economic transformation.”
He charged Nigerian universities to continue to partner governments at all levels in order to build a thriving economy.
“The Nigerian university system must continue to be partners in progress with governments at all levels. My administration recognizes that interdependency and professionals are the drivers of a thriving economy.
“If we must keep up with this global trend, education must be given its right place. My government is determined to continue to improve access to quality in our educational system.
“Consequently, infrastructure, teachers development, curriculum relevance, funding and planning will continue to receive a boost with the resolve that they will facilitate the desired change in sociology-economic, political, and technological sectors,” Buhari added.
The University graduated a total of 7, 148 made up of 16 first class graduands in the first degree category, 507 second class upper division, 3,143 second class lower division, 3, 160 will pass out with third class while 180 of the graduands have pass degrees.
In the higher degree category, 242 graduands bagged various degress, made up of 91 Postgraduate Diploma holders, 78 Masters Degrees and 73 with Doctorate Degrees.
