TheCable

Bosun Tijani, the minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, says academic institutions must play vital roles in building a formidable workforce for the country.

Speaking at the 33rd convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Tijani said the world is in more demand for youths with technological knowledge to resolve global challenges.

He said the country needs swift development in three key sectors namely, agriculture, manufacturing and servicing.

“As we work towards a more prosperous economy for all, our academic institutions must play a critical role in generating and applying knowledge to deepen our economy while helping to build a strong workforce,” he said.

The minister whose lecture was titled: ‘Knowledge and research as a foundation for the prosperous economy’, said universities of technology must rise to the challenges of technological advancement in the country.

“With the level of water body we have, fishery is not growing. We depend on importation of fish,” he said. 

“Forestry is suffering the same things; coming to university is not to get degrees only. Knowledge must be generated and disseminated in a way that can advance the country.

“Financial institutions have done very well, but not as we expected them to have grown. We are not applying knowledge and innovation; we are expecting to fish like our forefathers did in the last years.”