The Federal Government asserts that there is a growing need for individuals, particularly the youth, with technological expertise to address global challenges.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, made this statement during the 33rd convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure.
The minister emphasized that for the nation to progress, it is crucial to identify and enhance three key sectors—agriculture, manufacturing, and services—which have been utilized to gauge the Gross Domestic Product since 1980.
The minister, whose lecture was tagged “Knowledge and research as a foundation for a prosperous economy”, said universities of technology must rise more to the challenges of technological advancement in the country.
Tijani said universities must be creators of jobs through technological advancement and urged students to embrace self-investment.
”With the level of water body we have, fishery is not growing; we depend on importation of fish.”
“Financial institutions have done very well, but not as we expected them to have grown.”
“We are not applying knowledge and innovation; we are expecting to fish like our forefathers did in the last few years.”
“Forestry is suffering the same thing;”
”Coming to university is not to get degrees only; knowledge must be generated and disseminated in a way that can advance the country,” he said.
Previously, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, the Vice Chancellor of FUTA, mentioned that the event commenced last week, and inviting the minister was included in the activities planned to commemorate the 33rd anniversary.
Oladiji expressed that the convocation aimed to highlight the institution as a center of knowledge, expressing delight in hosting the minister in Akure for the first time.