The Federal Government has asked universities to take responsibility in training and grooming young Nigerians to become innovators, creators and critical thinking people capability of helping in solving the nation’s problems.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, gave this charge on Friday in Abuja, during the formal presentation of $20,000 to the management of Veritas University, Abuja, the 1st place award, won by the University at the just concluded African Telecommunication Union Innovation Challenge, held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Minister presented the prize money to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev Fr Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku at the brief ceremony held at the Galaxy Backbone headquarters, Abuja.
Recall that in a keenly contested Innovation Challenge organised by the African Telecommunication Union and sponsored by Intel, Huawei, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the GSMA, Veritas University’s “Software Engineering Lab,” won the competition with its “innovative focusing on providing hands-on learning experiences for young innovators”.
The award which was received by Representative of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya as well as officials of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy on behalf of Veritas University and was formally presented to the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University on Friday.
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Tijani said the world is evolving and urged Nigerian universities to help raise and groom strong people to become part of the workforce that would lift the nation towards economic prosperity.
He said he was extremely excited when he was informed about the outcome of the innovative challenge in Nairobi, Kenya, and decided to host the University to a befitting ceremony on behalf of the Federal Government for doing the country proud.
He noted that the feat achieved by the University calls for celebration recognizing that the University took its work seriously to be able to groom young people to compete in a global space and come out with the level of excellence expected from the country.
He added that there is nation that could progress without the contribution of tertiary education. He said many people do not know the role universities are playing in the society, emphasising that the quality of academic institutions is reflected on the quality of economy of any nation.
Tijani, said country relies on research and development to make progress, saying humanity would constantly be looking for better ways of doing things, which could only come through research and development by tertiary institutions.
“We live in a world that is constantly evolving, as we can now see that modern day technology is challenging our world of work in an unprecedented manner. This means that the shape of work and future of work in itself is also changing. The curriculum and how we train the workforce of the future is also changing.
“So, not only do we need to help raise and groom strong people to become part of the workforce that will lift our nation towards economic prosperity,” he said.
He charge the management of Veritas to remain a model university in Nigeria that is able to inspire to other institutions to see their roles much more than training of employees but drive innovation that would accelerate the nation’s economic growth.
He said he was delighted Veritas University is not just training the students to become job creators but providing them with the opportunities to apply God-given talent to solve significant problems.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Rev Fr Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, said it was a watermark event for the Minister to invite the University and the students who won the award to congratulate them, saying it was also an inspiration from government as well as indication that the public is recognizing the work being done at the university.
