Jonathan catalogues challenges facing varsities

Kano – President Goodluck Jonathan has catalogued overcrowding, dilapidated structures as well as  inadequate and outdated facilities as challenges facing the nation’s universities

Jonathan outlined the challenges on Friday in Kano at the 29th convocation ceremony of  the Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

“In terms of standards and quality, the Federal Government is aware of the conditions in our institutions of  higher learning.

“ Overcrowding, dilapidated structures, inadequate and outdated facilities have all been challenges to Nigerian universities,” he said.

The president, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Rukayyah Rufa’I,  said  the problems had persisted over time, adding that  concerted efforts were  required to solve them.

Mindful of   this, he said the federal government had directed the Education Trust Fund  since 2009   to make special allocations known as “ High Impact Interventions” to selected tertiary institutions.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of   the  university, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said  12,239 graduates were conferred with various degrees and diplomas at the occasion.

Out of  this number, he said 51 received PHD degrees, 1,639 got Masters degrees, 1,159 Post Graduate Diplomas while 5,674 received first degrees with 3,716  getting Ordinary Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas.

He thanked the president for his continued support to the institution.

NAN reports that three Nigerians were conferred with honorary degrees of   the  university.

They were retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, CBN governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and a US-based business tycoon, Alhaji Kase Lawal. (NAN)