FG will build mega varsities – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians of the federal government's commitment to improving the quality of tertiary education in the country.

President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo  at the Ahmadu Bello University's fundraising ceremony yesterday, said the government would establish mega universities to address admission constraints among Nigerians.

'When established, each of the mega universities would absorb more than 200,000 students,' Jonathan stressed.

The president expressed concern at the growing number of Nigerian university admission seekers in the last three years which, he said, was about 1.5 million annually, even as he noted that the absorption capacity of the existing schools was about a quarter of the number.

He commended ABU for its contributions to education and national development, saying that the university had not failed its founding fathers.

Governor Yero also acknowledged the contribution of the university, saying that 'ABU graduates had distinguished themselves in all aspects of human endeavours'.

The event was attended by Governor Muhktar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State; his Niger State counterpart, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu; speaker of the  House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar; the Emir of Zazzau, Dr. Shehu Idris; the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu; Sarkin Lere; Sarkin Lafiya; former national security adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau; elder statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule; former Senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani; former information minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, among others