The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has said that Nigeria's greatest asset is its human resources, particularly the youth, stressing the need for quality education and skills development to drive national growth.
Barau stated this when the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Science and Technology, FUST, Kabo, Kano State, Chief Mrs Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, led members of the council on a courtesy visit to him at the National Assembly, Abuja, on Thursday.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, the Deputy Senate President said investing in education remains critical to unlocking the potential of Nigerian youths and preparing them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
"Our greatest asset as a nation is our human resources, particularly the youth. We must ensure they have access to quality education and the necessary skills to drive national development," he said.
Barau reaffirmed his commitment to supporting educational institutions to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire knowledge and relevant skills.
He also commended the Governing Council, management and staff of FUST Kabo for securing accreditation for 20 academic programmes, including medical courses, ahead of the institution's maiden academic session.
"I am delighted with the remarkable progress recorded by the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, within such a short period. I commend the Governing Council, management, and staff for this achievement and urge them to sustain the momentum by maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence," he said.
The Deputy Senate President also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the bill that facilitated the conversion of the institution from a federal polytechnic into a university.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor, Laoye-Tomori, described the accreditation of the 20 programmes as a major achievement that would enable the institution to commence academic activities on a strong foundation.
Nigeria's greatest asset is youth, not natural resources – DSP. Barau