Visakhapatnam, April 27 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that universities should evolve as centres of innovation.​

Terming universities as national assets, he stressed the need to preserve and strengthen them.​

Participating in Andhra University’s centenary celebrations here, the Chief Minister inaugurated the AU Factory and Network Centre built at a cost of Rs 64 crore.​

He also laid foundation stones for nine development projects worth Rs 112 crore, including boys’ and girls’ hostels, a convocation hall, and other infrastructure works.​

Addressing students and alumni, the Chief Minister said times have changed, and ordinary people now have opportunities to become extraordinary forces.​

He said youth must focus on knowledge, innovation, and start-ups.​

He added that youth should not stop at seeking jobs, but must gain the capacity to create jobs for ten others, and that the government is ready to support them.​

He said that the foundation stone for the Google Data Centre in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday would be another landmark moment.​

He said that a $15 billion investment by Google reflects the greatness of Visakhapatnam.​

He added that even before Google, Andhra University connected Visakhapatnam with the world, and that students from 58 countries study there, which is a matter of pride for the state and the nation.​

He said Visakhapatnam is a global city, unstoppable and full of potential.​

The Chief Minister said Andhra University has emerged as a prestigious brand over the last century and is the leader among the state’s 53 universities.​

He paid tributes to the university’s first Vice-Chancellor, Dr Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy, for laying a strong foundation.​

He highlighted that the university’s second Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, later became President of India.​

Calling Andhra University a cradle of leadership, Chandrababu Naidu said many distinguished leaders, industrialists, and academicians had emerged from the institution.​

He noted that former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu is an alumnus of Andhra University.​

The Chief Minister said he wishes Andhra University to emerge as one of the top five universities in India and among the top 100 universities globally.​

He announced that for that level of growth, resources are essential and therefore, Rs 500 crore will be sanctioned to Andhra University as a corpus fund.​

He also appealed to alumni to contribute to the institution’s growth, saying that even a small contribution from each former student could have a significant impact.​

Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan, former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Union Ministers Srinivasa Varma and Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, Education Minister Nara Lokesh, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, film director Trivikram Srinivas, ministers, alumni, and others attended the programme.​

–IANS

ms/dan