New varsities will produce quality graduates, Wike pledges

MINISTER of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that the new nine federal universities offer the best education possible to enhance national development.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday while on an inspection tour of the Federal University, Otuoke, preparatory to starting academic activities in the school, Wike said the nine new universities would be equipped with basic facilities to make academic activities worthwhile.

He said the Federal Government would create an enabling environment for the universities to take off smoothly without disruptions.

His words: “The government of President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to providing the necessary facilities for the take-off the federal universities. We want quality teaching and learning to take place”.

Responding, Governor Dickson commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his investment in education across the country.

On the campus of the Federal University, Otuoke, Wike inspected work on the faculty buildings, laboratories, library, administrative complex and the students’ hostels.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on the facilities.

Wike also commended the Otuoke community for funding the construction of the library, laboratories and faculty buildings at the take-off site.

He said: “I am impressed at the commitment of the Otuoke community by investing in the direct construction of critical structures at the new university. I can only plead with those who made pledges to the community for the university to redeem such pledges”.

However, Wike observed that the university faced the challenge of sand-filling the site for the faculty buildings, laboratories and library, which he said, had made September the most feasible take-off date for the university.

 

In his remarks, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, stressed that the university administration was working within available resources to ensure the smooth take-off of academic activities.

As part of efforts to meet the sand-filling challenge, Aluko said the school had already acquired one million cubic metres of sand.