President Muhammadu Buhari says the Federal Government has set up a N3 billion National Research Fund.
Speaking in Sokoto on Saturday in a message to the Joint 32nd, 33rd and 34th Convocation and 40th Anniversary of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, the President, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, said that the fund was set up to assist the various universities to undertake meaningful researches.
Buhari explained that such researches were aimed at solving the myriad of problems facing Nigeria currently.
“The universities should embrace education to solve the challenges facing the nation now.
“Universities should also be vanguards in the diversification of the nation’s revenue sources in view of the falling prices of crude oil in the world market.
“Universities should also rack their brains and come up with alternative sources of sustaining the nation’s economy,” Buhari said.
He further expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to continue to be alive to its responsibilities to the education sector.
The president explained that this commitment led to the increase in the budgetary allocation to the sector in 2016.
He also promised that universities would continue to be assisted to function effectively.
The president urged the Organised Private Sector and other stakeholders to complement the efforts of the government in funding education at all levels.
