President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to develop practical, research-driven answers to the country’s most urgent hurdles, specifically food shortages and rising insecurity. Speaking at the 55th convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the President, represented by University of Benin Vice Chancellor Professor Edoba Omoregie, insisted that academic work must move beyond library shelves and into the realm of industrial application and policy reform.
The President highlighted that his government remains focused on upgrading the education sector via infrastructure investment, staff welfare enhancements, and curriculum overhauls. He pointed to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as key tools for expanding academic access to all citizens. Furthermore, the administration plans to revitalize the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to prioritize technology and entrepreneurship.
Directing his message to the new graduates, President Tinubu framed their degrees as a call to national service. He encouraged them to tackle unemployment by leveraging digital skills and participating in the nation’s growing technology economy. The President also lauded the leadership at UNN, including Pro-Chancellor Prof. Adegboyega Adebayo Kareem and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, for their efforts in improving the institution’s global standing and research capacity.
