By Peter Duru
MAKURDI—President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that the present administration has injected over 150 million US dollars as well as taken an International Development Association IDA, credit from the World Bank to carry out the Science and Technology Post- Basic (Step-B) project all in order to boost education in the country.

The President who disclosed this at the 16th/17th combined convocation ceremony of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, noted that the Federal Government would continue to take necessary steps to galvanise the education sector which, according to him, forms the bedrock of the socio-economic growth of any nation.

He noted that education plays a key role in the actualisation of the administration’s Vision 20:2020 project, hence the determination of the administration to accord deserved attention to the sector.

He was, however, quick to point out that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of financing the sector in view of financial constraints and other challenges government has to contend with.

Represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sheik Abdulla, he challenged universities of agriculture in the country to build internal mechanism in generating more revenue through legitimate commercial activities so as to meet the food security need of the nation.

President Jonathan further reminded the institution of its mandate, pointing out that the University of Agriculture was to aid research in accelerated food production, rural development and extension services.
He advised that the institution must not lose focus of this mandate.

He said: “All these efforts, along with many others will ensure the reversal of our declining per capita agricultural output in the face of increasing population; provide food security and fend off the global food crises.

“It would also control environmental degradation, generate employment and guarantee economic growth.”

David Mark bags degree

In his remarks, the Senate President David, who also bagged an honorary doctorate degree of the institution assured that the National Assembly would continue to make necessary budgetary provision for the funding of universities of agriculture in the country in view of their importance to the food need of the nation.

While the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Daniel Uza, appealed to the Federal Government to increase its funding of the institution in order to boost researches and also to aid food production in the of the country.