BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – President Goodluck Jonathan has charged universities to fully identify with the high expectations, hopes and aspirations of the ever growing population of Nigeria.

Jonathan gave the charge in a message read on his behalf by the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, at the 24th convocation ceremony of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO.

He said: “Universities should strive to fully identify with the needs of the society in order to meet the high expectations, hopes and aspirations of our ever growing population.”

He assured that his administration recognized the importance of education as the cornerstone of any meaningful development and urged heads of institutions to utilize their funds judiciously.

“As we move to address the long existing needs of our universities, we demand that the leadership of these institutions reciprocate government’s gesture by utilizing their funds judiciously, and by carrying out relevant research to boost the nation’s economy”, Jonathan said.

While congratulating the graduands, the President urged them to “demonstrate in practical terms the technical know-how, ideas and knowledge acquired during their academic apprenticeship in this University”.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chigozie Cyril Asiabaka, lamented that regular government subvention to universities is never adequate to tackle the mountain of challenges facing them.

Vanguard recalls that apart from Vice President Namadi Sambo, Governors Godswill Akpabio and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Akwa Ibom and Gombe States respectively, bagged honourary doctorate degrees from FUTO.

Other recipients of the honours degree were the Chairman of Honeywell Group Plc, Oba Otudeko, the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah and the Chief of Staff to the President, Asiwaju Mike Oghiadomhe.