Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has boycotted the graduation ceremony of the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master’s Degree in International Relations.
He boycotted the graduation alongside his associates many of whom had gone to the United Kingdom in solidarity with Nigerian students and their parents many of whom he alleged have been away from school following the strike by university lecturers.
However, speaking on the sidelines of the graduation, Atiku said that investment in education pays the best dividend than any other investment.
Newsmen report that the Anglia Ruskin University, ARU Awards Board had on the 12th of November, 2021 confirmed the award of Master of Arts International Relations on Atiku Abubakar following the successful completion of his Master’s degree programme at the university. The graduation ceremony could not hold then because of the Covid-19 disruptions.
However, the former Vice President was not physically present at the graduation ceremony today (Wednesday) having collected his certificate earlier. He was also not represented in line with the policy of the university.
The PDP presidential candidate stayed away from the event in solidarity with Nigerian students (and their parents and wards) who have been at home for months with no end in sight to the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
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“In all honesty I could not mount the podium with other graduands to collect my certificate today. I had worked hard to complete my studies and was excitedly looking forward to donning the graduation robe and collecting my certificate. However, I am compelled to skip the event in solidarity with our students who through no fault of theirs are being degraded at home”.
Atiku restated his position that the mind is a very terrible thing to waste.
He noted that there’s no return on investment that can surpass that on education.
“Education is a game changer because it unlocks the sustainable “crude oil” in the brain as against that in the bowels of the earth.
“Education remains a priority to me. That explains why I invested in it and was prepared against all odds to walk this journey that has earned me a higher degree today.”
He pleaded with the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve all extant issues to pave the way for the strike to be called off so that students can return to school for their own good and to the benefit of our country.
Even more importantly, he counselled on the need for all stakeholders in the society to make the funding of the universities a continuous and deliberate policy for the sake of our youth.
