President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has acknowledged the challenging economic conditions in Nigeria, urging citizens to endure what he described as “unintentional hardship” while assuring them of brighter prospects ahead.
The President made these remarks during the 48th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Represented by Tope Fasua, Special Adviser on Economy to the Vice President, President Tinubu emphasized that his administration is focused on reforms aimed at rebuilding Nigeria and delivering long-term benefits for all.
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“I am not unaware of the harsh economic situation of our country, neither do I take pleasure in inflicting pains and anguish on my compatriots,” Tinubu said.
“However, we were faced with the stark reality of results of some policies hitherto executed by past administrations, but which had no direct positive impact on the generality of our people.”
The President added that his government has embraced both the assets and liabilities inherited from previous administrations without apportioning blame.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with ongoing efforts to rectify past mistakes, assuring them that “light at the end of the tunnel” is visible.
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“As we are trying to fix, reconfigure, and correct past mistakes and errors, we implore all Nigerians to cooperate with us and endure this unintentional hardship so that, like the graduates of today, we all can celebrate and be celebrated at the end of the day,” Tinubu stated.
In his address, the Chancellor of the university, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, highlighted the critical role of education in driving national development. He called for greater investment in education to ensure Nigeria remains competitive globally.
Similarly, the Pro-Chancellor, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, charged the 977 postgraduate students to leverage their knowledge in building a nation filled with opportunities for future generations.
The convocation ceremony also featured the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on distinguished individuals, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi; Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe; MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola; and Daere Afonya-A Akobo.