He made the pledge during a courtesy visit by the management team of the University of Ibadan (UI) to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. The delegation, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale, honoured the Vice-President with the university’s highest alumni recognition — the UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary award — for his distinguished contributions to public and private service.
Shettima, who earned a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from UI in 1991, expressed deep appreciation for the award and lauded the university as the “greatest citadel of learning in West Africa.” He reminisced on the institution’s past international prestige, noting its role as a beacon for students across Africa and beyond.
“There was a time when the King of Saudi Arabia was recommended for treatment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan,” he recalled, underscoring UI’s historic significance in both education and healthcare.
Reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s educational agenda, Shettima stressed that the administration was mobilising both public and private sector resources to boost tertiary institutions nationwide.
“We are going to mobilise resources from both the private and public sectors to ensure that UI and other universities in the country succeed,” he said.
He cited key initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) — a new policy aimed at providing financial support to indigent students and ensuring that economic disadvantage does not hinder access to education.
“NELFUND is the first of its kind, directly addressing the needs of underprivileged students,” Shettima noted.
Turning briefly to the broader economic outlook, the Vice-President conveyed cautious optimism, suggesting that the worst of the country’s economic challenges may be behind it.
“Our economy has turned the corner; we have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path to sustained economic growth,” he declared, pointing to rising tax revenues as an early indicator of improvement.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebowale, commended Shettima for his lifelong achievements and leadership, noting that his conferment as Ambassador Plenipotentiary was unprecedented in the university’s history.
“You are a foremost alumnus of the University of Ibadan, the first and the best. We created this special category solely for you,” he said.
Prof. Adebowale highlighted the Vice-President’s legacy of service, from his banking career to his tenure as Governor of Borno State and now as Nigeria’s second-in-command, saying his story is one of commitment, competence, and service to nation.
The visit not only celebrated an accomplished alumnus but also reinforced the Federal Government’s intention to elevate Nigeria’s educational sector through sustained collaboration, innovation, and reform.