Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed has congratulated the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) on the recent graduation of its first set of medical students.
Speaking at the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th combined convocation ceremony of the university held at its Gubi Campus, the governor said in appreciation of the development, the state government would absorb the graduated medical students to address the shortage of medical doctors in healthcare facilities.
The governor said the university has consistently been a beacon of knowledge and innovation, standing tall among its contemporaries in the country.
He noted that the institution’s commitment to excellence and pursuit of knowledge is evident in its outstanding academic programmes, dedicated faculty members, and state-of-the-art facilities, adding that through its holistic approach to education, ATBU Bauchi has nurtured generations of leaders who have gone on to make significant contributions in various fields of human endeavour.
The governor said his administration fully subscribes to the truism that education is the bedrock of progress and development, and no society can thrive without a strong educational foundation.
He explained that his government’s commitment to the educational sector has been unwavering, as reflected in the various policies and programmes so far implemented in the sector, adding that implementing new policies, particularly leveraging technology and robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, has successfully reduced waste and corruption in the system.
The governor said, “Today’s momentous event marks a significant milestone in the lives of our graduating students, who have successfully traversed the challenging path of higher education, and are now ready to embark on the next chapter of their lives. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the graduating students. As your fellow citizen and executive governor of this great state, I am an advocate of innovation, progress and development.
“In our commitment to fairness, the investment in educational reform and infrastructure will be distributed across higher institutions in the state. Additionally, we provided land and buildings to support the establishment of new institutions by the federal government in Azare and Jama’are. While acknowledging these achievements, we recognise there is more work to be done. That is why we have established a Ministry of Higher Education.”
He added, “Due to the economic challenges faced by parents, we have restored and increased scholarships for Bauchi state indigenes by 50%, with plans for further increments as our resources improve. Furthermore, I have declared a state of emergency in the education sector. The focus will be on modernising our curriculum to instill a Bauchi first consciousness and foster digital literacy for the benefit of students.”
Mohammed reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue investing in the education sector, creating an enabling environment for educational institutions to flourish, assured that it will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all eligible citizens of the state have access to quality education to complement the efforts of institutions in producing excellent graduates who will lead the society towards a brighter future.
In a keynote address, the visitor to the university, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Ocheido James of the Federal Ministry of Education, promised that his administration would continue to do everything within its power and limited resources to ensure that university education in Nigeria is improved in tune with global best practices.
