President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that his administration would respond promptly to the demands of universities in the country.
Buhari, who is the Visitor to the University of Calabar (Unical) in Cross River State, gave the assurance in a statement read on his behalf by the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Onwuka, at the 30th Convocation of the university at the weekend.
According to the President, while the government is making efforts to meet the demands of universities, Unical management should strive to meet its obligations to students and staff of the institution.
He urged the institution’s management to be more proactive and ensure a stable academic calendar (September-June) and he advised various unions to join hands with the school’s management to improve the quality of education.
President Buhari lauded the management for upgrading infrastructure and for contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
He congratulated the 13,347 graduands and the three eminent Nigerians who were awarded honorary Doctorate degrees, adding that the awards were a demonstration of the generosity of the people of Cross River State.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who accompanied the Doctorate Degree in Business Administration honoree, Alhaji Umari Kwabo, announced a donation of N30 million by the Sokoto delegation for the institution’s Medical Centre.
Tambuwal also announced a personal donation of N20 million by Alhaji Kwabo and another personal donation of N10 million by former governor of Soko State, Attahiru Bafarawa.
Also at the event, business mogul, Dr. Daniel Nwanneka Chkwudozie, who bagged the honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the university, pledged to erect a structure at the new Engineering Department of the university.
He was accompanied to the Convocation by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who is an alumnus of Unical.
One of the honorees who bagged the Doctorate Degree in Law, Brig-Gen Anthony Ukpo (retd), said it was a befitting birthday gift.
Ukpo, who turns 70 this year, said he was elated to have been bestowed with such an honour.
Answering questions from journalists about his previous stewardship in Rivers State, he said his performance as military governor of old Rivers State (now Rivers and Bayelsa states) speaks for itself.
He advised the people of Cross River State to work hard and to go to school to acquire knowledge.
In his remarks, the former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, said “the University of Calabar has done the right thing by also honouring a Northerner. It shows there is unity in this country.
“We in Sokoto State will ensure that education is compulsory and I expect everybody to contribute to its development.”