The Federal Government
has appealed to the leadership of Academic Staff Union of University,
ASUU, to appreciate the current economic challenges that have
financially constrained the Federal Government to meet its demands.
President Muhammadu
Buhari made the appeal in a message delivered in Owerri, on his behalf,
by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka,
during the convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology,
Owerri, FUTO. “As partners in progress, I plead for understanding and
cooperation as the government is committed to addressing the various
issues being canvassed by the Union, as we strive to right the wrongs of
the past”, Buhari said.
He acknowledged the
anxiety and uncertainties that agitate the minds of the graduands, on
what the future holds for them after graduation.
“The fear is further
amplified with the rising unemployment coupled with the recent economic
recession that has befallen our beloved country. Periods like this are
opportunities for geniuses to emerge”, Buhari said. The President
assured Nigerians that his administration will not renege in its promise
to provide opportunities and avenues so that youths could develop their
skills and creative ingenuity. In his own address, the Vice Chancellor,
VC, Professor Francis Chukwuemeka Eze, declared that he would
“re-engineer and transform FUTO, to a truly world class university
through recruiting, nurturing and developing uniquely promising students
and exceptional staff in science, engineering, technology and
innovation to the benefit of mankind”.
The VC disclosed that
FUTO currently has 48 academic programmes in eight schools, adding that a
good number of these programmes had received full accreditation, while
few had interim accreditation. “The programmes with denied and interim
accreditations, have been presented to the National Universities
Commission, NUC, for accreditation, as observed deficiencies have been
rectified. In addition, we are in top preparation for the upcoming
institutional accreditation and resource verifications for five newly
established programmes”, Eze said.
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