UNIFEMGA Demands Improve And Sustain Investment In Infrastructural Development From FG

Being the Communiqué issued at the end of 2017 Annual Re-union Conference of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) held at OAU Ile-Ife, Osun State from 7^th to 9^th Sha’aban, 1438 A.H (Friday May 5 to Sunday May 7, 2017).

In line with the core values of the association, especially on economic empowerment, a workshop by the association in partnership with the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies (IFEDS) OAU on collaborative research and proposal writing was held followed by an agriculture business seminar.

The Conference whose theme is “Beyond Recession: Imperatives for National Growth and Development’’  commenced with a workshop followed by a special Juma’at service at the OAU Ultra-Modern Central Mosque of Unity, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The reunion lecture was delivered by Alhaji Ismaila Aderemi Bello, National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (NACCIMA) while Alhaji Sulaiman Abdulmajeed chaired the occasion. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of the State of Osun, was represented by Mr. Kola Omotunde-Young, as the Special Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries at the occasion include the Acting Vice Chancellor represented by Professor Gbenga Alebiowu (Provost, PG College) and The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly represented by Mr. Goke Butika.

The Conference equally witnessed the presentation of Eighty-three scholarships and grants to OAU students totaling the sum of N4.8 million by the Association as part of its welfare gesture to the students on Campus. From the inception of the programme in 2009/2010 to date, the Association has disbursed the total sum of N26,651,000.00 to 477 students of the Institution.

The association also had its keep fit exercise and novelty match as well as its Annual General Meeting (AGM) where its activities in the past one year were reviewed.

OBSERVATIONS:

The following observations were made during the course of the conference that:

1. Successive governments in Nigeria have since independence in 1960, pursued the goal of structural changes without much success.
2. Nigerian economy has grossly underperformed relative to her enormous resource endowment and her peer nations
3. The major factors accounting for the relative decline of the country’s economic fortunes are easily identifiable as political instability, lack of focused and visionary leadership, economic mismanagement and corruption.
4. The agricultural products of Nigeria are not acceptable to the international community due to the sharp practices of some exporters.
5. The knowledge base existing in our various educational institutions has not translated into solutions for the problems of our society.
6. Islam is a religion that calls upon all its adherents to adopt modern ideas and technologies that can improve life, as long as they are within the limits set out by Allah.

RESOLUTIONS:

At the end of the conference, the following resolutions were passed:

1. That the academic curricula review should focus on current and future societal needs.
2. That the Federal Government should ease the process to access the N500 billion export stimulation facility provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria which would invariably lessen our over dependence on oil as the main foreign exchange earner for the Country.
3. The Government needs to improve and sustain its investment in infrastructural development such as power, rail and road as most of the other sectors’ performance depends on them.
4. The Government should invest more in science and technology to boost innovation and meet up with world standard in service delivery.
5. Nigeria should pay special attention to the educational sector at all levels to facilitate  production of  high quality manpower for the industry and e
6. The Association is happy that the institution has made substantial progress in the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor.
7. Above all, in doing business, Islam enjoins Muslims to uphold essential values, including integrity, justice, honesty, proper documentation and mutual respect.

Appreciation

We appreciate the University administration for the support towards organizing the program. We commend the National and Local Organising Committees for giving the Association a befitting conference.

Engr Abdulwaheed Odeyimka                                      Engr. Mohammed Buari

President                                                                                      Public Relations Officer