The Federal Government has charged vice chancellors of the nation's universities to formulate policies that would encourage Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as a way of restoring the education sector.

Speaking at the 28th convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin on Monday, the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayat Rufai, said that government could no longer exclusively fund the education.

The minister, who had earlier inaugurated eight projects executed by the institution, described University of Ilorin as an exemplary institution that had given a ray of hope for a better ranking among the world's best universities.

"Government is trying to do its best in terms of funding of universities, but we need to start thinking of alternative sources of funding to complement the efforts of government.

"We must enter into agreements with private persons by forming partnerships with them so that we can collectively restore the dignity of university education in Nigeria," she said.

A total of 5,556 graduates participated in the convocation ceremony which was anchored by the chancellor of the institution, the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I.

Also speaking, the university's vice chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, urged the 37 First Class Honours graduates to make humility their watchword, saying that the world was becoming more competitive and "only the humble ones would flourish in it."

"Some of you have talents. You have been in the exclusive club of the University scholars. You have made a First Class which 37 of you made the highest number in the University of Ilorin so far in a year. But it is not by your own power, it is by the grace of God who gave you the talent.

"You therefore not become arrogant; be humble, because it is not you really, it is God. Then there are, some of you who even as students are famous. But it is people who talk or write about you that make you famous because there are many others who do better than you that are largely unknown."