Ekiti State Governor and Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said, on Thursday, that the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities would soon resolve their ongoing crisis.
Fayemi, who said he had the opportunity to be part of negotiations between government and ASUU in his capacity as NGF chairman, said that in view of the successes recorded so far, “We are nearer to the resolution of the of the crisis than people think”.
The governor, who spoke during the 24th Convocation Ceremony of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, where 11,437 bagged various degrees, appealed to labour leaders in the institution to always embrace peace and give room for dialogue in resolving many of the issues that might come short of their expectations.
He advised Nigerian graduates to develop capabilities to generate uncommon innovation and ideas, describing it as the best catalysts to success in a 21st-century economy.
Fayemi said, “This is a period when academic curricular of our citadels of learning should be tailored towards meeting the realities of our contemporary Nigeria and the antidote for its various challenges.
“It is a generally accepted norm that only qualified staff and students could innovate and steer the ship of our university system as well as Nigeria as a nation to our expected shore. Therefore, I challenge the graduating students of today to see themselves as the future of Nigeria. The earlier the responsibility of leadership is embraced by their generation, the better for them as a people and to us as a nation.”
The 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, who was on the occasion, inaugurated the institution’s pro-chancellor, said, “This appointment will only further encourage me to continue joining hands with him (Fayemi) as we seek to make contributions to resolving some of the intractable issues currently facing this country”.
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