Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Bauchi State University, Gadau, on Saturday at its maiden and combined convocation ceremony conferred Governor Bala Mohammed with a honorary doctorate degree in what it said was a recognition of his administration’s educational agenda for economic and societal development.
In his remarks, Mohammed pledged to support the university in the areas of research and innovation in order to excel and move the state to greater heights.
He stated that as the world is moving towards digital economy, his vision for the university and other tertiary institutions in the state was to promote technology and skill acquisition for self-reliance.
Addressing the gathering, the governor congratulated the university’s governing council, the management, staff, students and the entire community of the state university for a successful conduct of the maiden and combined convocation ceremony.
The governor challenged the university to come up with courses and programmes that will turn the tide and open up opportunities for people to improve their economies.
He enjoined the university to uphold the culture of selflessness, fellowship and commitment by ensuring the institution’s rules and regulations for the smooth conduct of its staff and students remain sacrosanct and strictly observed.
He promised to work closely with the management to ensure that the convocation is held regularly in tandem with National Universities Commission’s (NUC) recommendation.
Mohammed recalled that the university was established in the year 2011 to give youth the opportunity to further their education and provide middle level manpower for the state civil service.
He commended the university’s management for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere on its campuses and good working relationship with the state government and other relevant agencies that cater for primary, secondary and tertiary education.
He noted that, like in primary and secondary educational institutions, his administration was poised to provide infrastructural facilities and necessary support to state-owned tertiary educational institutions to ensure hitch-free academic activities.
He added that he had succeeded in carrying out a number of projects at the state university which include, construction of 3 kilometres of roads at the Gadau Campus, extension of power supply to faculty of basic medical sciences, procurement of lab equipment and reagents, employment of 160 staff, among others.
“In the area of support for indigenes of the state to acquire higher education, we have since the inception of our administration in 2019, paid a total of N658,539,470:00 as scholarship to 32,987 students undergoing courses at various tertiary institutions.
“As a result of the increasing number of candidates seeking for admission into tertiary educational institutions, both the federal government and Bauchi state government have established more tertiary institutions of learning in the state,” he stated.
On her part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Fatima Tahir, explained that 184 students of the university graduated with first class degrees honours out of the total of 7,026 undergraduates.
