President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions within and outside the university system to always give peace a chance.
He said that dialogue is always better than conflict.
“No one gains from the crisis. While government alone cannot solve all challenges facing society, this administration is willing to listen to complaints and alternative points of view to managing a situation.
“The university system cannot withstand any crisis now, considering the time it had lost to the coronavirus pandemic”, he said.
Buhari also tasked universities to find the country’s solution to the COVID-19 pandemic through research.
The President made the appeal at the grand finale of the 36th coronation ceremony of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
He added that the nation’s universities have a role to play in the efforts at combating covid-19 in the interest of the nation and humanity.
Represented by Prof Ignatius Onimawu of the National University Commission (NUC), the President said that nation expects nothing less from the Nigerian university system.
According to him: “While I expect us to abide by all the protocols given out by health authorities on COVID-19, our universities have a role to play in the efforts at combating it in the interest of the nation and humanity. I expect our universities to conduct researches targeted at discovering an antidote to it. Universities are expected to focus their research attention on the challenges facing our societies and find practical solutions within the context of national development.
“I, therefore, challenge the universities to give their best in the fight against this common and unrelenting enemy of humanity. I enjoin our researchers to collaborate among themselves and look forward to bringing an effective solution to this medical challenge. The nation expects your university to play a leading role in the research efforts to develop COVID-19 antidote in Nigeria. The nation expects nothing less from the Nigerian university system.”
-Thenation
