The Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) has been directed to promptly release funds in support of the development of University education in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari stated this during the 25th convocation of the University of Uyo, in which 4,308 graduates received their degrees, certificates, and diplomas.
Buhari who was represented by the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abubakar Rashid blamed the poor funding of federal universities on the growing number of such institutions saying one of the challenges facing universities is funding.
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The President explained that the situation has made it impossible for the government alone to fund universities in the country adequately.
Buhari who is the visitor of the University stated that it was an indisputable fact that the high number of public universities and the increasing number of students and candidates seeking admission make it unrealistic to expect the federal government to be to provide funds for the smooth running of the system.
He appealed to Nigerians to make little contributions towards the funding of tertiary education assuring that the federal government would continue to accord education top priority.
In his remarks, Enefiok Essien Vice-Chancellor of the University lamented that since its establishment more than 29 years ago, no take off grant had been released to the university which he said has affected the institution.
He listed many achievements recorded by the University which he said include the construction of many buildings, a filling station at the main campus, the accreditation of many courses and the commencement of new programmes by the University.
Two prominent Nigerians, Martha Udom Emmanuel, wife of the Akwa Ibom State government and John Momoh, the chief executive officer of Channels Television was decorated with honorary doctorate degrees.
