President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday urged universities in the country to justify Federal Government’s investment in them by striving to raise standards.
Buhari made the call in Nsukka during the 47th Convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria.
The ceremony also witnessed the conferment of postgraduate diplomas, higher degrees and award of honorary degrees to three distinguished Nigerians.
He acknowledged that universities had the potential and responsibility of training the human capital to drive various government initiatives.
Buhari said: “Indeed government is mindful of the social role of universities in the uplifting of the socio-economic life of our country.
“Government will continue to give support to enable our universities to achieve the objectives which they were established.
“Universities on their own are expected to reciprocate the noble gesture of the federal government by striving at all time to measure up to the required standard to justify the monumental investment in them.”
The president, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Onwuka, urged the organized private sector to play prominent role in providing quality education, saying government cannot do it alone.
“To this end, the organised private sector should play prominent role in helping government to achieve quality education, since government cannot shoulder the financial responsibility alone,” he added.