THE Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, promised today to put an end to strikes in Nigerian universities and other academic institutions, which he stated had hampered the country’s ability to offer higher education.
Obi participated at the “State of the Nigerian Economy: The Way Forward” University of Nigeria Nsukka Business Interactive Session, which was hosted at the Central Bank of Nigeria Auditorium on the UNN Enugu Campus.
The former governor of Anambra State promises that when he is elected president, the Academic Staff Union of Universities strike will be history because “we will not have one day of ASUU strike.”
Obi lamented the numerous strikes occurring at Nigerian colleges, saying that when he was a student there at UNN, there were never any strikes.
He emphasized that funding for institutions was not a huge deal.
The funding of institutions is not a significant deal. Everyone must work together to support a university. Education is an investment rather than a cost. Nothing will be allowed to obstruct education, he assured them.
According to Obi, to promote higher education, students might be granted loans to study with and repay the debts after graduation.
The former governor declared, “We would grant students loans, which they will repay when they obtain jobs.”
The former governor declared, “We would grant students loans, which they will repay when they obtain jobs.”
He asserted that university professors are not mistreated elsewhere in the world and suggested that they be inspired to work to further their field.
Obi spoke on security and suggested that every community establish a security organization in order to have effective security.
However, he noted that insecurity was not unique to Nigeria because countries like Mexico and Brazil have previously experienced conditions similar to those that exist in Nigeria now.
He emphasized that industrialization, youth employment opportunities, and decent government will reduce insecurity in Nigeria.
In order to best lift Nigeria out of its current economic morass, the banks of Industry and Agriculture should be operated by private citizens and corporate entities rather than by governments.
According to Prof. Josephat Onwumere, director of the UNN Business School, the interactive event was planned, so that the presidential contenders could explain to Nigerians how they would revive the nation’s economy.
Onwumere stated that it was crucial for Nigeria to create intelligent men who could advance the country, and he added that other presidential hopefuls would be invited by the Business School to present their platforms to the world.
