The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FirstCap Limited, a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc, Mr. Ukandu Eme Ukandu, has urged the government to champion equity and opportunity by “creating policies that reflect the potential of every citizen, not just a few.”
Ukandu made the call in Nsukka recently while delivering the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) 54th Convocation Lecture, titled “Educated to Rise: From Local Struggle to Global Strength.”
He urged industries to open their doors wider, seeing young minds not as risks but as reinforcements for growth.
He equally called on universities to remain knowledge centres and innovation engines.
The CEO, who identified family as the bedrock of education, urged parents to give special attention to their children’s education.
He also urged governments at all levels to review education’s budgetary allocations to meet the United Nations’ benchmark.
“Good education starts from the family level. As such, families should inculcate the culture of reading and learning in every child so that they will grow up with it. Exploring education and being productive in life will be easier for them.
“On the other hand, the government should inject more money into the education sector because the current education budgets across all tiers of the government are below the global benchmark,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Prestigious Homes Ltd., Lagos, and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Akintola Oladejo, commended UNN for sustaining the dream of the university’s founding fathers.
Earlier, UNN’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, said the convocation lecture was traditionally part of the institution’s convocation ceremony.