Okoro, Calabar
COMMITTED to the fight against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerian universities to support the Federal Government’s anti-graft war in the country.
Buhari, who made the call during the 29th convocation of the University of Calabar, held yesterday in Calabar, said the fight to rid the nation of corrupt practices should not be left for the government alone, but a collective responsibility.
Represented By Prof. Akanerem Essien, a former Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Buhari reiterated the zero tolerance of his administration for corruption, adding that there is a need for universities to support the fight by eradicating bribery, examination malpractice, plagiarism and other vices in the academic community.
He said, “As I continue the fight against corruption in the country, I want to call on universities in Nigeria to support the crusade.
Universities are known for nurturing young vanguards.
I want universities’ management to evolve the spirit of nurturing our young ones in the right track by shunning all forms of corruption. The President, who said his administeration would continue to support the growth of our tertiary institutions in the area of research and academic growth, added that the N500 billion allocated to the education sector in the 2016 budget would be effectively utilized to ensure optimal improvement in the country’s educational system.
He congratulated the graduands for the successful completion of their course work. In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Prof Zana Akpagu, said a total of 7,222 graduands of the 2014/2015 session were honoured with first degrees, masters’ degrees and diplomas. According to him, 12 out of the 7,222 graduands bagged first class degree honours and they would be given automatic employment by the university in line with its policy. Further breakdown of the figure showed that 4,868 had first degrees, 952 had masters degrees and 1,402 with diplomas certificates.
Also in line with the university’s tradition of recognising individuals who have contributed immensely to the development of society and humanity, the VC conferred the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Law (LLD) on Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross Rivers State, and also a Doctorate Degree of Political Science (DPSC) on Senator Florence Ita-Giwa. Prof Akpagu said the university decided to honour Duke for transforming Cross River to a tourist state and hospitality heaven, while Ita-Giwa was honoured for her struggle in rehabilitating the Bakassi displaced returnees.