By Our Correspondent
Theophilus Danjuma, a retired Lieutenant General and former Minister of Defence, has called on the Nigerian government to prioritise manpower development, particularly among young people, as a strategy for transforming the nation’s economy.
Danjuma made the call on Saturday at the 8th and 9th combined convocation ceremony of Plateau State University (PLASU), held in Bokkos, Plateau State.
He stressed the need for deliberate and sustained investment in youth, noting that Nigeria must look inward to harness its human resources for sustainable growth.
“We must mentor, support, finance and guide our young leaders — not waiting for external forces, but drawing from our own resources and talents,” Danjuma said.
At the ceremony, Danjuma was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration and Ethics (Honoris Causa), alongside young entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Samuel Aboyeji, who received an honorary Doctorate degree in Information Technology and Entrepreneurship.
Expressing gratitude for the honour, Danjuma said he was humbled by the recognition, especially in light of the growing global attention on Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
“The name ‘Middle Belt’ has become part of global vocabulary. When President Donald Trump publicly spoke about the situation in Nigeria — particularly the concerns affecting communities in the Middle Belt — the international media took notice. Many were surprised, some puzzled, yet the conversation persisted,” he said.
“Today, the world is listening more closely to the realities of our region. For that awareness, we are grateful.”
The convocation ceremony also celebrated academic excellence, with 22 graduands from various disciplines earning first-class honours across the two academic sessions.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, described the convocation as more than a celebration of academic success, saying it symbolised resilience, excellence and years of intellectual discipline.
“Our institutions must not merely award degrees; they must serve as vibrant hubs of research, innovation, entrepreneurship and global relevance,” Mutfwang said.
He disclosed that his administration had invested nearly N1 billion in programme accreditation to ensure that academic courses meet national and international standards.
“We funded the establishment of the Faculty of Law and supported the take-off of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences,” he added.
“These investments go beyond infrastructure. They reflect our determination to strengthen healthcare delivery by training competent professionals who will advance medical research and safeguard the well-being of our people.”
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Shedrack Best, said the convocation combined the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions, producing 2,485 bachelor’s degree graduates, 13 postgraduate diploma holders and 78 master’s degree recipients.
He also disclosed that Governor Mutfwang announced a donation of N250,000 for each first-class graduand and N500,000 for the overall best graduating student.
