From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
Former Minister of Agriculture, Professor Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah has urged the governments at all levels to give the required priority to educational sector to achieve development, promote social harmony and curb social vices especially among the youth.
He made this known while delivering the 4th combined convocation lecture, themed: ‘Building Bridge Between Community Elites, Education, Youth, University and Challenges for Development in the 21st Century’, at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State.
Prof Abdullah further revealed that neglecting the youth portends a great risk to the progress of the country and her image at the international community, hence the need for community renewal, empowerment of Nigerian youth and building of a solid interconnectivity between ruling elites and the ordinary citizens to make Nigeria.
Sheikh Abdullah who lectures in ABU Zaria challenged Nigerian Universities to adapt to changes in teaching and learning across the world especially the full adoption of ICT to enable their graduates fit into global ways of doing businesses and make themselves relevant to the country’s development.
He said about 70 percent of qualified Nigerians lack access to quality and skillful education that would make productive citizens after graduation, lamented that obtaining certificates in Nigerian schools have been monetized leading to production graduates without skills even in the areas they have studied.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of IBB University, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu has applauded the state government for its support thus far, adding that the 4th combined convocation marked another milestones in the journey of development of the Institution .
The chairman of the event and Niger state deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso stated that building bridges between community elites, youths and university students required intentional effort and a commitment to working together towards common goals.
