By Mohammed Yangida
Lafia
Nasarawa state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has offered automatic employment and scholarship to a visually impaired graduate Solomon John Akoji and four other first-class graduates of the Federal University Lafia, who are indigenes of the state.
He made the offer at the weekend during the maiden convocation ceremony of the university and also explained that the student had the option of either continuing their education to doctorate level or take offer of the employment.
The benefiting graduates include Williams Yaji overall best student of the school and first class student of Economics. Others are Muazu Ibrahim, Abdulaziz Zakari and Bashir Eya.
“My dear graduands, as pioneer products, it is my hope and, indeed, expectation that you will all live to your billings as good ambassadors of this ivory tower. As patriotic citizens, society looks up to you as models in our march to the promised land”, he said.
The governor further assured that his administration would continue to accord priority to education and support those who excel in their academic pursuit.
He noted that his administration has set up machinery to re-invent the lost glory of the educational system which was the reason the state government declared a state of emergency in the educational sector.
Al-Makura urged universities across the country to redirect their research work towards entrepreneurial work to reverse the trend of mad chase for white collar jobs.
“I wish to crave the indulgence of the university to run courses that are relevant to the development needs of the state”.
“I, therefore, urge you to be frontal in inculcating entrepreneurial training and character building that will mould the thinking of our youths towards self-reliability and social reorientation.”