President Muhammadu Buhari has again appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its ongoing strike.

Buhari made the call in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Friday while speaking at the maiden Special Convocation Ceremony and conferment of Honourary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Maiduguri on Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources Ltd.

Buhari was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

He said: “It’s more appropriate that we say something about this ASUU strike because we are celebrating Alhaji Indimi who is celebrated hugely for advancement of quality education not only in this country.

“In this regard, I want to convey President Muhammadu Buhari’s call for ASUU to call off their strike and return to classroom.”

Gambari added that negotiations have gone far, saying for ASUU to continue the strike under such conditions was counter-productive.

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He stated that such prolonged interruption of education was undermining the nation’s development of human capital.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, said the maiden special convocation was to give honour to Indimi for his contribution to educational development at home and abroad.

Shugaba urged the Federal Government, ASUU, and other university-based unions to resolve the lingering strike to save the education sector.

Also speaking at the event, former President Olusegun Obasanjo lauded the peaceful atmosphere in Maiduguri, saying: “What I saw is contrary to the picture being painted outside.”

Obasanjo lauded the effort of the Borno State Government and other stakeholders for the relative peace in the state, urging them to sustain the tempo.

The former President further congratulated Indimi for the honour bestowed on him, describing him as “a self-made man as shown by his struggled to greatness in life”.

On his part, Indimi expressed gratitude to God for the honour bestowed on him, reiterating his commitment to selfless service to humanity.

Prof. Saliba James, who read the citation of the celebrant, said Indimi has distinguished himself in promoting educational development within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

The Star