Buhari tasks Nigerian varsities to produce COVID-19 vaccine

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday tasked higher institutions in the country to play leading roles in the research and local production of COVID-19 vaccines.
“The nation expects your university to play a leading role in research efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. The nation expects nothing less from the Nigerian university system,” the president said at the 36th convocation of the university in Ilorin.
Represented by Ignatius Onimawo, former Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Mr Buhari said all universities must be involved in the fight against infections and diseases.
Specifically, he commended the University of Ilorin for running a stable academic calendar over the years, adding that the varsity “has had the highest students’ subscription in JAMB enrolment,” and “has become the university of choice in Nigeria.”
The president took a swipe at the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). He urged them to embrace peace, adding that dialogue was always better than conflict.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Sulyman Abdulkareem, said the university sustained its reputation of seamless academic sessions in spite of the pandemic.
(NAN)
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