President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s dedication to ensuring that education is accessible to all Nigerians through strategic funding and pragmatic policies. This commitment was emphasized during the ninth convocation ceremony of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), where 8,444 students were awarded various degrees.
Representing the President at the event, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Adebayo Bamire, conveyed Tinubu’s congratulations to the graduating students. He urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their academic journey to address societal challenges.
Tinubu emphasized his administration’s resolve to make education both accessible and affordable for millions of Nigerians. He highlighted that quality education is vital for national and economic growth and affirmed that his government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, will continue to invest in and implement policies aimed at improving the education sector.
A key initiative cited by the President is the introduction of the student loan scheme, from which over 300,000 Nigerians have already benefited. This scheme, he explained, is one of several measures taken to make education more affordable, particularly for the less privileged. “The Federal Government understands the importance of quality education and is committed to ensuring that education is made accessible to all Nigerians through strategic funding and pragmatic policies,” Tinubu stated.
He further asserted, “My administration has an unwavering commitment to strengthening the education foundation for the benefit of all.”
In a bid to enhance the autonomy of tertiary institutions, Tinubu also announced the Federal Government’s decision to remove these institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This move, he explained, is intended to grant universities greater flexibility in managing their operations.
Commending FUOYE’s management for maintaining uninterrupted academic activities, Tinubu encouraged all tertiary institutions to remain focused on their core mandates of learning, research, and community service to advance national interests.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, lauded President Tinubu for his continuous support through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the student loan scheme. These interventions, he noted, have significantly contributed to the human and material development of the institution.
However, Ndoma-Egba appealed to the Federal Government to address the university’s high operational costs, particularly in power generation, as FUOYE is yet to be connected to the national grid. He also acknowledged the university’s rapid development under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, praising his efforts in elevating FUOYE to a position of administrative and academic excellence within Nigeria and beyond.