Federal Government To Invest N1.3trn In University Education – Wike

Abuja - The Federal Government will invest N1.3 trillion in university education over the next six years. 

 This has been made known by the Supervising Minister of Education Chief Nyesom Wike on Monday when a team from the World Bank and the African Centres of Excellence (ACE) paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.

This announcement has followed the statement made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday that they might embark on another strike as the FG was yet to release the N220 billion to the Union.

According to Wike, the FG has realised the potential of an effective university system and therefore is determined to invest heavily in research, infrastructure, and improvement of quality teaching in the university system.

He said that the allocation of 10 slots out of 18 ACEs to Nigeria by the World Bank was a proof that such investment was beginning to yield dividends.

The Minister told the World Bank that the $80 million grant to the ACEs would be judiciously applied to achieve the goals for which the centres were established.

He commended the leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC) for achieving such a feat.

Wike also said that it was the duty of Nigerians to ensure that they played their own part by contributing to the development of the sector.