Buhari hails Unical VC, says others should emulate him on public funds usage

Prof. Zana Akpagu, Vice Chancellor of Unical

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu and his entire management team for the judicious use of Tertiary Education Trust Funds, TEFund usage.

President Buhari who made the commendation while presenting his address at the 32nd Convocation ceremony held at the Abraham Ordia Stadium in the university on Saturday, advised other VCs to emulate Akpagu on the usage of public funds.

He also commended Akpagu for aligning with his anti-corruption war and the fight against terrorism through the introduction of anti-corruption and anti-terrorism courses.

He said Unical was the first institution in the country to have introduced such courses.

The President said this was a very patriotic gesture even as he advised other institutions in the country to take a cue from that.

The president, who was represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uhuru Usani,  said: “I have been informed that your university is the first in the country to introduce anti-corruption and anti-terrorism studies in your General Studies curriculum.

“I commend you for that patriotic initiative and urge others to emulate your example in order to expand our capacity  and compliment the efforts of government in the struggle to defeat the twin evil.

“I also commend management for making judicious use of scarce resources allocated to the institution via TETFUND.

“The projects that have been commissioned as well as other ongoing ones, are a testimony of your prudence. Your choice of a solar-power project has shown the direction for solving our institutional power needs in Nigeria and I expect other universities to examine your example for their benefit,” President Buhari said.

While declaring the 32nd convocation open, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Akpagu, said the institution had undertaken several projects including infrastructural development, ICT development, improvement in ranking, solar-power projects among others to improve learning.

He pledged to continue to work tirelessly to make Unical one of the best universities in the world.

He enjoined the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the institution, stressing that they owe the institution a duty to properly represent it where ever they find themselves.

Also speaking, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the institution, Senator Dr. Nkechi Nwaogu, said management remains committed to providing enabling infrastructure and a conducive atmosphere for learning.

She said the institution had graduated men and women who had demonstrated great acumen, excellence as well as leadership and who have distinguished themselves as national leaders and world class citizens.