President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians to support his government’s economic policies despite the difficulties currently experienced, assuring that the policies would soon yield the desired results.
The president made the appeal in Zaria at the 43rd convocation ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria where 25,432 students graduated with various degrees.
Represented by the minister of education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the president said the policies seem difficult, but the desired positive outcomes would soon come.
“I would like to solicit for understanding and support of Nigerians towards the government’s economic reform programmes in spite of the difficulties involved. We are very much hopeful that these policies will yield the desired results in no distant future”, he said.
Speaking on the role of universities in national development, President Tinubu said Ahmadu Bello University among other Nigerian universities had contributed immensely to research and development, hence the need for them to partner with industries and entrepreneurs to commercialise their ideas.
He also urged the graduates to go out and be job creators and job seekers, adding that the opportunities available to them are limitless and open to them to conquer.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chancellor of the university and the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeke Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, commended the federal government for removing federal universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), adding that the decision would go a long way in guaranteeing the autonomy of the universities.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Kabiru Bala said of the 25,432 graduating with various degrees, 647 bagged PhD, 5,167 masters, among others.
He also disclosed that, out of 11,916 graduates with Bachelor degrees, 182 earned First Class degrees, 3,902 earned second-class upper degrees, and 11,552 graduated with second-class (lower division).
In attendance at the convocation ceremony were governors of Kaduna and Zamfara states, Senator Uba Sani and Dauda Lawal, Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, among others.
