The federal government has earmarked N47 billion to support Universities of Agriculture and medical schools across the country.
The breakdown showed that universities of agriculture will receive N30 billion – with each university receiving N1 billion to establish mechanised farms while 18 medical schools will receive N17 billion to train healthcare professionals, including medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses.
The government also announced the setting up of startup grants to university students which is aimed at supporting their entrepreneurial endeavours.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa stated this in Abuja on Tuesday during a meeting with Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities.
Alausa said the intervention fund allocated to universities of agriculture will play a significant role in enhancing food security nationwide.
The minister noted that by supporting these institutions, the fund aims to boost agricultural productivity, ultimately contributing to the country’s food security.
Alausa stated: “Every university that has faculty of agriculture, we now want you to set up your own mechanised farming and livestock production. And we have put aside about N30 billion for that.
“We will give you N1 billion. You will have to apply for N1 billion to set up your mechanised farming in these universities. This President, one of his first pillars in his priority area is food security. We want you as the people that build our future, the education system, build value of future and freedom and opportunities.
“We want you to start using your power, your position to create opportunities for attainment. We are also working with TETFund. As I said, we are focusing on STEMM.
“We have identified about N17 billion of the high impact with TETFUND. Our special high impact projects to 18 universities. This will be directly focused on medical schools to specifically train doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses.
“Eighteen (18) of the universities will share that N17 billion. But we want you to focus on these four categories of courses. For doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and nurses.”
The minister expressed concern over the trend of specialised universities venturing into academic programmes beyond their areas of expertise.
He specifically mentioned examples where Universities of Agriculture are offering courses in Accounting, and Universities of Technology that are rendering insurance programmes.
The minister lamented that these specialised universities have deviated from their core mandates.
According to him, over 1 million job opportunities exist in emerging technologies, including 300,000 jobs in cloud computing, 300,000 jobs in machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI), 250,000 jobs in natural language processing among others.
The minister stressed the need for Governing Councils and management of universities to work in a collaborative manner, with mutual respect and dignity.
He added: “Although your role is not to interfere in the day-to-day running of the universities, which is the purview of the Vice-Chancellors, you are representatives of the President and the ministry with the mandate to provide robust supervision and oversight to ensure these institutions are run properly according to the law.
“In this role, the ministry will support you to create an enabling environment for the universities to function effectively and efficiently. The budgets of your institutions and the procurement processes should be approved and supervised by your councils according to extant rules guiding these processes.”
Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities (CPCNFU) and Pro-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Yayale Ahmed, said the event was an opportunity to reflect on their roles, share innovative ideas, and forge strategies that will enhance the governance and management of universities.
