President Umaru Yar�Adua on Saturday pledged his administration�s commitment to tackle graduate unemployment and under-employment in the country.
He added no efforts would be spared in in reducing graduate unemployment to the bearest minimum.
Yar�Adua said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, at the 59th Founders Day and convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
He also reiterated his administration�s zero tolerance for corruption at every sphere of the country�s life.
The President said, �The leadership of this administration is determined to lead by example. We shall obey the laws and shall be transparent, accountable, just, fair and show integrity in all our businesses.
�Government is determined to fight corruption at all levels, including our tertiary institutions.
�I, therefore, urge the leadership of this university to continue to be prudent, transparent and accountable in the management of both human and material resources.
�We cannot meaningfully speak of effective and efficient funding of education sub-sector if our universities are mired in crises, confusion, fraud and lack of institutional vision.�
He added that the country�s tertiary institutions had yearly churned out graduates whose focus was to secure plum white-collar jobs, which were not available.
The visitor noted that such jobs had been found not to be the gateway to an enduring economic development and technological advancement of the country.
Yar�Adua, therefore, tasked tertiary institutions to integrate theory and practice to stimulate the entrepreneurial behaviour in the students.
He also underscored the need for synergy between the institutions and industries to minimise the growing complaints of the organised labour market about the poor quality of the graduates.
But the President was hopeful that such cooperation would enhance the quality of life and living standards and stimulate the growth of the country�s Gross Domestic Product.
Nov192007