The Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Professor Stephen Ocheni, has called on tertiary institutions in the country to maintain high level academic integrity and discipline.

The Minister of State gave the charge while receiving in audience members of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association, Abuja Chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

He said fighting cultism on our campuses and instilling discipline in our children is very important, “we all have a role to play to ensure that we are bringing up future Nigerians that are capable of bringing positive change in our country. With a very formidable group like this, we will be able to achieve our desired goals” the Minister stated.

“We have to ensure that institutions of higher learning maintain high level of academic integrity. This is very important. Why should parents send their children abroad to study and spend millions of Naira when we have higher institutions like the UNN. Our certificates are recognised worldwide but  a lot more needed to be done for us to be able to justify the Federal government investment in education by turning out first class graduates of world class standards that can stand the challenge of defending their chosen areas of discipline” he added.

The Minister appealed to lecturers on various campuses to maintain high level discipline in their dealings with students “your students are your children, treat them like your children. These are the kind of messages we need to take home. Infrastructural development is important but the moral training and upliftment is also very important on the campuses. Lecturers should not oppress the students, they should maintain a formal relationship with the student and ensure that hard work is inculcated in them” he reemphasised.

The President of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association, Abuja Chapter, speaking through the Vice President, Prof. Peter Onwualu said the purpose of their visit was to identify with the Minister of State, brief him on the activities of their Association and to formally invite him to the next Annual dinner and Award night of the Alumni Association of the Abuja branch.

The leader of the Association commended President Buhari for appointing one of their members to an exulted position in the country.