FG To Renovate Six Universities In 2009

The Federal Government said Monday in Abuja that it would renovate six universities in 2009 as part of strategies to realise its seven-point agenda.
The Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aishatu Dukku, said this when she received some accounting students of Ahamdu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, who paid her a courtesy visit.
``The Federal Government is concerned about the poor state of Nigerian universities. Various personalities, including President Umaru Yar'Adua, have had cause to visit some of the institutions lately.
``Each of the visits has ended with a sad story of the general decay at the institutions, but we have made a vow that we are going to tackle the problem now,'' Dukku said.
She said one university would be selected from each of the six geo-political zones for the project, expected to commence early next year.
``We have decided that at least one university should be selected from each of the six zones. I am happy to inform you that ABU has been selected from the North-West.
``The project is intended to turn around the universities, upgrade their facilities and make them world class by all standards,''Dukku said.
She said government placed great premium on the education sector because it was key to the attainment of the seven-point agenda.
``We believe that education is central to the attainment of both the seven-point agenda and the 2020 Vision.
``This is because none of the components can be realised without education. You cannot talk of food security without proper education, so also is the economic development,'' she said.
She said government was concentrating on girl-child education and adult and non-formal education because they were key to meeting the Education for All (EFA) target.
``They are also central to the attainment of the MDGs by 2015 and the Vision 2020 of the Federal Government,'' Dukku said.