• Why I chose Bakare as running mate in 2011
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu disclosed in Abuja yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari will establish six universities of science and technology across the six geo-political zones of the country.
Adamu said at a forum that the future of the world depended on science and technology.
“This government has already decided to even add more; it is going to establish six new universities of science and technology,” he said.
“And, at the lower level, there will be a technical school in each state of the Federation and then vocational centres at the wards and local government levels.
“You know, we have a problem of access; if you look at it last year, one million people sat for the universities but, only 150,000 were admitted.
“So, we still need to build more universities to create more space for those who want to get in.
“And, then, the fact that the six new universities are being created for science and technology underscores the decision by the government to put more emphasis on science.
“Whether we agree or not, oil has limited time before it finishes; the whole economies of the world are going towards the knowledge economy.
“Actually, it is the cultivation of science, technology and engineering studies that will hold the economy in the future.”
He said over the years, government had laid emphasis on science and technology by giving more access to students in such fields.
Meanwhile, Buhari disclosed, yesterday, why he chose founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare as his running mate in 2011.
The president said he didi that to prove wrong those who saw him as a religious bigot.
Speaking during the Katsina Economic Summit, the president said he made the move to make his critics ‘shut up.’
“One of the four attempts to get here was with Tunde Bakare, when people said I’m a religious bigot, I decided to take a pastor so that I can shut their mouths up,” he said, adding: “So, Tunde Bakare, has decided to be with me all the time.”
Buhari assured Nigerians of his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises.
“At the presidential primaries last year, I promised and I quote, “I will bring all the resources to end poverty through ending corruption, ensuring economic growth, investing in our country and creating jobs,” he said.
“I hold myself to this promise.” Buhari took a shot at the presidency four times -2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015, before emerging victorious.
He contested twice on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), once in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), before moving to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he made history as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president.
The president noted that the overall objective of the summit, was to stimulate local investment and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the manufacturing sector, agri-business, solid minerals, power, hospitality industry, and other services.
“Creatively and purposefully applied, these should help to bridge gaps in capital, management skills and technology, where they are most severe, and support the competences of local companies and the workforce towards world standards.’’
He said this would enable both local and foreign manufacturers and service companies alike, to stand with the best in servicing local and global markets.
According to the President, these generous offers are the minimum required to attract the critical investor who is courted in every country and region of the world.
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“It is in this context that today’s Summit takes on an additional significance: APC Government of my home State has strongly embraced this vision by assembling the world to be part of this summit.
“As I said, Federal Government alone cannot deliver on the high expectations of our people.
“Katsina State Government and people have shown the way by assembling the brightest and best from the business world.
“The brightest and the best from the development partner community; the best and the brightest from MDAs and regulatory bodies.
“Katsina State is doing its part.’’
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The President, however, stated that economic progress must be tailored to environmentally safe and sustainable programmes.
He said, “we should also keep an eye on the rights of the future generations who are as entitled as we are to their heritage of Nigeria.’’
He maintained that, in this regard, the Federal Government would work with the Katsina state government in rationalising such actions to avoid over-laps or discontinuities or environmental damage.
The President also enjoined the state governments to work closely with the private sector to enable them achieve “quickest, most efficient and sustainable path to industrialisation.’’
“The private sector should be the engine of economic growth; it should be the largest investor in the economy; it should be the quickest, most efficient and sustainable path to industrialisation.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that goodwill messages were delivered by local and prospective investors at the event.
The event was witnessed by the governors of Zamfara, Kano, Lagos and Sokoto states as well as other dignitaries.
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State also announced the allocation of land to one of the prospective investors, who pledged to begin the construction of Tomato paste company within the next three months of the allocation.