Vincent Egunyanga, Abuja
The governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has warned that the financial gains from the removal of fuel and electricity subsidy must be accounted for in the near future.
The governor, who spoke in Abuja as the guest speaker at the 13th convocation lecture of Veritas University said the removal of fuel subsidy was a bold step taken in the interest of the future of the country pointing out that the country is in a state of emergency.
He said a time will come when the government will have to explain what they have done with the removal of fuel and electricity subsidy.
He advised that Nigeria must now begin to invest in human capital development stressing that Human Capital Development is the only hope for the future of Nigeria.
He said by 2050 Nigeria will be the third largest populated country in the world after China and India “so the country must prepare to be the largest supplier of labour in the world”.
He said in developing human capital emphasis must be on Education and Health.
He said though with the removal of fuel subsidy, Federal allocations to states has increased compared to what it was five years ago but that the increase amounted to nothing with high inflation and the fall in the value of the Naira .
Addressing the graduating students Professor Soludo said their Education only prepared them for the future and that with Donald Trump as the next President of America “you will face some uncomfortable truths, things will be tough but only those with skills will survive”.
He said many of them will not practice what they learnt in the University.
He said his tailor is a graduate of Geology from the University of Maiduguri with over one hundred tailors employed by him.
He said they should try to be employers of labour rather than looking for non existent jobs.
He told the youth to reject the notion that they are the future leaders of tomorrow urging them to take up leadership now.
“Now is your time,” he said.
