OKADA____The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, has urged private universities in the country to support his effort to transform the educational landscape in the country.

Buhari who spoke at the 15th convocation ceremony of the Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) were honorary doctorate degrees was conferred on the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, executive Governor of Ondo State, Olorogun Oskar Ibru, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and Barr Umar Mantu, said his determination is to bring about the desired change in the education sector remained sacrosanct.

President Buhari whose speech was read by the Director of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Joel Ojo, called on stakeholders in the educational sector to give maximum support towards the growth of Education in the nation.

According to him ” we are convinced that there is still hope for Nigeria and in every sector. That is the reason the Federal government recently launched the Ministerial strategic plan to articulate the process, strategy required and harness the indigenous resources of our great country for the realization of the mandate for positive change”.

Also speaking at the convocation, former President and Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar GCFR, enjoined Nigerians to embrace peace, adding that peace must be maintained at all levels.

“It is the responsibility of every Nigerian to ensure we maintain peace, if there’s no peace there will be no country, no university. We must all maintain peace at all levels in the Nigeria”, he said.

Gen Abubakar also congratulated the founder of IUO for visionary qualities towards the creation of the University, charged students of the institution to be guided in their studies, while also thanking parents for the sacrifices made in bringing their children and wards to the university.

Delivering his remarks, Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, noted that no society can rise above the level of its idea concerning consistent intellectual nurturing of its citizens, which he described as the true meaning of Education.

Akeredolu further said that Nigeria should be able to depend mainly on the expertise of those whose trainings have gobbled huge investments from the commonwealth, adding that the country should be far less dependent on other nations of the world for basic means of sustenance.

On his part, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by his Deputy, Hon Phillip Shaibu, stressed that the only way to improve the development of the country was to look inward into skills and technical education.

Obaseki urged young people to emulate Umar (one of the honorary awardee) in making positive strides in the society, while also congratulating the Chancellor (Esama) for his vision, which he said has created top class individuals.

Earlier at the convocation ceremony, the Chancellor of the University, Chief Dr. Gabriel Igbinedion who described the ceremony as the happiest day of his life, thanked Gen Abubakar for putting pen to paper when the bill to establish the University was presented before him as then military head of state.

The Chancellor also said the University is committed towards improving education in the country and world at large.