Stop financial recklessness – President Jonathan warns Vice Chancellors

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Saturday, warned
that his administration will not condone indiscipline
and financial recklessness in tertiary institutions.
He, therefore, called on the nation’s university
administrators to be prudent in the management of
funds accruing to them.

Jonathan, who made the call while speaking at the
44th Convocation of the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka (UNN) said universities must make concrete
efforts to supplement government funding by
generating their own resources.

“Although, this government is committed to the
development of the universities, there is need to
state in clear and unequivocal terms, that
government should not expected to take hundred
percent responsibility of financing public tertiary
institutions”, he added.
According to him, “We have improved condition of
service, ensured internal autonomy of our
universities, and guaranteed that state-of- the-art
infrastructure are put in place and painstakingly
maintained"

The President whose address was read by the
Minister of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Shakarawu
stressed that his administration had in the past six
years, committed several billions of Naira to improve
infrastructure, training, re- training and research in
nation’s public institutions, through the Tertiary
Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

On UNN, the Visitor to the university said he was
overwhelmed over the progress so far made in the
institution, adding that it had continued to adhere to
the philosophy of the founding fathers, especially
with the enviable mandate of restoring the divinity of
man.

Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor
Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, said that “the
university is keeping her commitment to excellence
and has identified significant individuals whose
contributions go in tandem with her goals and
aspirations, and whose superlative achievements
sing the song of apocalypse in the aler of world
achievement”

The high point of the occasion was the awards of
honorary doctorate degrees and Professor Emeritus
to some prominent Nigerians.

Among the awardees were the Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremadu, Lady Valeria Azinge, Mr.
Ojenukwu Augustine Avuru, Dr Musa Babayo.
Professors Paul Akubue and P, N Okeke.