Buhari ‎Orders Immediate Composition of Varsities’ Reconstituted Governing Councils

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari said he has directed the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to immediately release the composition of the reconstituted governing councils of Nigerian universities, including that of the University of Abuja.

The president made this known at the 21st convocation ceremony of the University of Abuja where a total of 13,670 scholars made up of 13,117 undergraduates and 553 postgraduates from the 2015/16 academic session graduated.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Economics degree. Chief Michael Onoja (Doctor of Communications) and Prof. Peter Proksch (Docror of Science) also received honorary degrees.
Buhari, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said he has directed the NUC to embark on a comprehensive review of the curriculum of Nigerian universities before the end of the year.

He said the growth of the University of Abuja was hindered in the past due to corruption, mismanagement and highhandedness leveled against past management of the institution.
“At some point in the history of the university, government had to send special visitation panels outside its regular visitations to investigate alleged cases of corruption, mismanagement and highhandedness leveled against some of the past administrations of the university.

“It is also instructive to note that the NUC has had to embark on some damage control measures by redistributing students in some programmes in the past to conclude their training in other universities when some of the past administrations of the university commenced the affected programmes without due process and approval.

“Government had to intervene on this issue when it became obvious that the emerging disruption of the peaceful atmosphere needed for scholarship was being compromised as a result of the consequences of the university’s action.
“At the moment, government is inundated with all sorts of petitions from a section of the university and beyond which is an indication that the community is still polarised and that the trial period is far from being over. It is time we allowed the University of Abuja to grow as a strategically positioned university in Nigeria.
“As we celebrate today, we need some introspection for the purpose of finding lasting solutions to the challenges affecting the positive development of this university. My administration on its part will continue to do its best to see that the University of Abuja is transformed to the university befitting the federal capital of Nigeria,” Buhari said.

Sanusi, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, thanked the university for the award.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, said six students made first class in various fields of study. According to him, 644 students were awarded second class upper division; 6,187 made second class lower division; 5,830, third class; and 441 were awarded pass degrees.

He added that the institution graduated nine Veterinary Medicine students.
“On behalf of senate and the entire university community, I congratulate the graduands on their achievements. The university expects you to conduct yourselves as shining examples of its credo as a centre for learning and shaper of good character.”