President Goodluck Jonathan
has expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to provide private institutions with infrastructure.
Jonathan stated this recently at the ground breaking ceremony of the Eagle Height University, Omadina, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, recently the university is owned by the founder of the World of Life Bible Church and president, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
Jonathan said that the government was not in a position to provide institutions that could accommodate the teeming Nigerians who are yearning for education, hence the need for more private-owned universities.
“Government is passionate about private institutions, especially the religious ones because they imbibe in the children degree of discipline. “This government has been able to establish 14 universities two of which are specialised while the rest are conventional universities. “Without private sector contributions to education, Nigeria cannot attain meaningful development, government cannot conveniently create university space for the teeming youth,” he said.
The president also urged parents to invest in their children’s development pointing out that they are the future leaders of the nation.
“The achievements of a man are not measured by the property he acquired but the educational legacy he bequeaths to his children,” he said.
Jonathan stressed the need to encourage the youth to study science subjects, noting that technology had, over the years, driven the economy of industrialised nations.
He said that nations such as China and some other Asian countries were technology-driven, adding that it had revolutionalised those countries.
“There is need for us as a nation to be involving more in technological disciplines to develop our country,” he said.
In a keynote address, Oritsejafor said that Nigerians are praying for the safe and unconditional release of the abducted Chibok school girls and appealed to those perpetrating evil in the country to repent and desist from it.
He said the university was his way of assisting members of the society who are yearning for education to improve their lives.
