President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Nigerian universities across the country to deploy the use of drones and other technology driven solutions to tackle insecurity on their campuses.
Represented by the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof Tanko Ishaya on the occasion of the 26th to the 31st Combined Convocation ceremonies of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), the President noted that the military was doing well in this regard and the Federal Government (FG) would continue to support them to succeed.
The Vice Chancellor of JOSTUM, Prof Isaac Itodo, had earlier appealed to President Tinubu and the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to develop some vital infrastructure in the institution that would put paid to the security challenges faced by the varsity.
Tinubu who said, he was aware of the insecurity faced by the institution, appreciated the efforts of the University management to bring in innovations and development to curtail issues of insecurity on its campus, despite the economic and security challenges being experienced around the country.
While the president noted that the FG realises that education and security are the best tools for development and civilisation in any society, he stated that his administration was determined to make institutions of learning across the country conducive and safe for learners and managers of education.
Tinubu said, “Our universities should therefore, be engaged in research aimed at production and utilization of drones and other technology driven solutions to help combat the menace of insecurity on our campuses and beyond. The Nigerian military are doing an excellent job in this direction and we shall continue to support them in all ramifications.
“May I appreciate the efforts of the University management to bring in innovations and development in spite of the global economic recession and insecurity being experienced around the world including our dear country. The Federal Government realises that education and security are the best tools for development and civilisation in any society.
“My administration is also not unaware of the security challenges faced by this University and is determined to continue to do its best to make all institutions of learning across the country conducive and safe for all learners and managers of educational institutions.
“Let me throw a challenge to our academics who need to work and develop tools and materials necessary to enhance the detection and tracking of security breaches to make our country safe. The combat of insecurity in the 21st Century has gone beyond the physical running around by security operatives carrying guns to trace crime perpetrators.
“Our universities should therefore, be engaged in research aimed at production and utilization of drones and other technology driven solutions to help combat the menace of insecurity on our campuses and beyond. The Nigerian military are doing an excellent job in this direction and we shall continue to support them in all ramifications.”
Closely related, president Tinubu pledged that “The Federal Government would continue to give education a priority with improved funding through Capital appropriation and Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
“The managers of our University system must be accountable and prudent in the application of the resources that are made available to them to forestall being called to answer. Universities of Agriculture as specialised Universities must also key into the Agriculture and Livestock Transformation effort of this administration for maximum impact.
Speaking earlier at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, JOSTUM, Prof Isaac Itodo, said “Mr President sir, even as the university is jubilant over the many infrastructural interventions from the FG, the university is still desirous of more critical facilities. The university currently has no access road.
“The thoroughfare to Gbajimba, the headquarters of Guma local government area currently used as access road has posed serious security threat and challenges to lives and property on campus.
“May I, therefore, appeal to Mr. President to approve the opening up of the main access road to the University from the Agan Toll plaza on the Makurdi-Lafia road. I equally call on Mr. President to urgently release funds for the perimeter fencing of the university to improve the security of lives and property on the campus.
“Our gratitude also goes to His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Executive Governor of Benue State for his goodwill to the university and to use this opportunity to beg for the construction of the road from the SRS junction to the university gate.”
On the convocation proper, Prof Itodo said, “It gladdens my heart to inform you that at this occasion of the Joint Convocation Ceremonies, we are graduating a total of 22,027 students comprising 15,402 conventional Bachelor degrees, 2,121 Sandwich bachelor degrees and 4,504 Postgraduate degrees.
“Of the conventional Bachelor degrees, 200 have First Class, 3,532 have Second Class Honours (Upper Division), 7,637 obtained Second Class (Lower Division), 3,637 earned Third Class, 246 Pass and 150 unclassified (DVM) degree.
“Of the graduands of our Postgraduate School, 446 will be conferred with Doctorate degrees. 2,045 will be awarded Masters degrees while 2,013 will receive Postgraduate Diplomas”, the Vice Chancellor said.
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