Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

Ibrahim Shuaibu 

The Northwest University, Kano has so far received 5,533 applications for admission into the next academic session.

This figure far outweighs the 1,000 prospective students, scheduled for take-off of the institution.

The Chairman of the University Implementation Committee, Professor Hafiz Abubakar who disclosed this while presenting its progress report to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at the Government House, Kano explained that  4,796 candidates have already received registration code.

Professor Hafiz disclosed that the committee has concluded arrangement to conduct post U.M.E. screening examination, which will be conducted within three days, even as candidates will receive the results within 48 hours.

The chairman also said arrangements are in top gear for the recruitment of academic staff, as interviews were recently conducted for those who applied, while eligible applicants who intend to work in the institution as non-academic staff have also sat for aptitude tests to determine their suitability.

He revealed that the National Universities Commission has sent a resource identification team to ascertain the level of progress at the permanent site of the institution, highlighting that it is the first state owned in the country to have a resource inspection team before commencement of academic activities.

The team, according to Prof. Hafiz,  gave the new university a pass mark and the go ahead to start academic activities, adding that the team also praised Governor Kwankwaso for his determination to make the university a realistic project.

Responding, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso who expressed happiness that many students have shown interest in the new university, lamented the dearth of universities in the state, despite its huge population and demand of tertiary education, promising to do his best to ensure that Northwest University stands on its feet.

He  said all efforts would be geared toward making sure that academic activities commence in the university by March 2013, while the state University of Science and Technology will also be funded adequately and given the desired support to compete with other universities in the country.