The Sultan of Sokoto and Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has appealed to governments at all levels to provide more funding to tertiary institutions.
Abubakar noted that this is necessary to address the challenges facing the education sector.
The traditional ruler made these declarations while speaking at the 76th foundation day of the university on Monday.
DAILY POST reports that President Bola Tinubu was represented by the Minister of State for Education and other high-profile government functionaries and dignitaries.
Our correspondent reports that a total of 485 graduands bagged Doctor of Philosophy of the institution.
Sultan while addressing the gathering, revealed that poor financial fortune is one of the major problems of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
He then used the opportunity to appeal to government at all levels to provide more funding to tertiary institutions across the country.
“Permit me to use this medium to appeal to the government to do more in the provision of adequate and proper funding of tertiary institutions. We are not unaware of the dwindling state of economies of nations, the world over.
“However, we are optimistic that prioritizing education will raise the standard of the output of our institutions and thereby address some of the ills bedevilling our society.
“Need I say more about the poor financial fortunes of our institutions? Parents, students, youths and all, I implore us to show understanding with management in trying to explore ways to complement the efforts of the government, this is significant in ensuring that our standards are not compromised.
“Let me pay special tributes to all parents and guardians of the graduands. You have labored and made sacrifices to educate your wards up to this level, against the fluctuating fortunes of the nation in recent years. I hope the successful completion of their studies can offer you some sense of fulfilment. May your labour never go in vain.
“May I, at this point, welcome the newly constituted Governing Council chaired by our own Chief Bisi Akande, a philanthropist and selfless leader who has started to demonstrate his generosity in our University. It may interest you to know that Chief Bisi Akande, upon assumption of office as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Ibadan, directed that all benefits and allowances attached to his office be converted to an endowment for the benefits of deserving undergraduate students of the university in the basic Sciences of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
“Sir, I must say our university is blessed to have you in this position at this period. In appreciating you and other members of Council, let me also appreciate, very profoundly, the eminent Nigerians who have donated in diverse forms, both in cash and kind, to the course of the University of Ibadan”.