He also emphasised that the universities should serve as
hubs for technological innovation, adding that for the country to remain
competitive, it must make reasonable contributions to the global body of
knowledge, as it pertains to science and technology.
Dr. Jonathan stated this on Wednesday in his speech at a
special convocation ceremony of the Gregory University Uturu, Abia State where
an honorary doctorate degree in public administration was conferred on him.
The former President noted that he made education one of the
cardinal points of his administration, in line with his philosophy of
development which is rooted in education.
According to him, some of the initiatives of his
administration geared towards revamping the nation’s education included establishing
twelve new conventional universities and three specialized as well as
implementing the the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovations
and Development (PRESSID) established .
He said that PRESSID was of special interest to him because
of its potential to train and produce young Nigerians that would advance
Nigeria’s technological drive.
“For a country like ours which is in dire need of a
technological base for its growth, especially in this age of fast-paced
knowledge economy, we were convinced that a programme like PRESSID was the way
to go”, the former President said:
Dr. Jonathan observed that a beneficiary of the PRESSID
programme, Dr. Joel Eleojo Adams had gone on to become the first non-British to
be commissioned as an Aero-Systems Specialist engineer and first Nigerian to
get to the rank of a Flying Officer in the British Royal Airforce.
Speaking further, the former President said: “We must strive
to make our universities, solution camps and ideation grounds. Grounds for the
formation of creative minds. Places that produce people pondering on solving
the next mankind’s greatest challenges.
“Our universities must function as citadels for
purpose-driven human development and hubs for technological innovation.
“For us to make sustainable progress, they must serve as
institutions for research, discovery and development of transformative
solutions that will reduce hunger, poverty and unemployment.
“Nations that stand out today as very peaceful, prosperous
and stable are those with well-established educational systems.
“For this reason, every progress-minded society must make
conscious and pragmatic efforts to build a proper education system that
develops the capacities of its people because education serves as not just the
gateway to prosperity but a peacebuilding mechanism.”
The former President further charged the students of the
university and all others across the country to work hard to make their years
on campus count.
“You must justify the investments made by your parents and
guardians by making yourself relevant in the search for solutions to society’s
challenges.”
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