From Olanrewaju Lawal (Birnin Kebbi)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Obi of Obinugwu and Co-Chairman, Southern Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Cletus Ikeckukwu Ilomuanya, Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, have jointly called for more funding for public universities in Nigeria.
They stated this during the fifth combined convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) and award of honorary doctorate degrees to the eminent personalities, held at the main campus of the university yesterday.
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, enumerated his administration’s reform policies, introduced for the betterment of education, such as the increment of the education budget, sum of 70 billion for students loans and over N200 billion budgeted to alleviate poverty, among others.
He disclosed that a committee had been set up to liaise with the staff of universities on challenges facing the institutions, stressing that his administration was not unmindful of the challenges, especially the issue decaying infrastructural facilities in various universities.
“I, therefore, solicit for your support for my administration. These policies will yield good results very soon,” the President said.
In his remarks, Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, who donated a 36-seater bus to the university, urged the graduands to use their knowledge for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
He added that his administration’s contributions towards the successful combined convocations of the university had shown the commitment of his administration to the education sector.
Chancellor of the university, His Royal Majesty, Eze Cletus Ikeckukwu Ilomuanya, the Obi of Obinugwu and Co-Chairman, Southern Traditional Rulers Council, also noted that the university, just like other sister-institutions has been largely dependent on the Federal Government in the discharge of its mandate.
“However, it is also a fact that the government cannot continue to shoulder all our needs in the face of competing demands on the nation’s scarce resources. It is therefore incumbent upon all the stakeholders in the educational enterprise to come forward with their contributions. In particular, I call on financially endowed individuals to invest in education at all levels. We at the FUBK are available for partnership in all areas of human endeavour.
On his part, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Alhaji Ali Abubakar-Jatau, registered profound appreciation for the support the university had been receiving from the Federal Government, governors of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states.
The support, he added, had at various occasions supported the university in different forms in times of need and sometimes voluntarily on their own without requests.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, lamented the unfenced land at the main campus, inadequate transport to university campuses as major challenges faced by the university.
“The nature of the fence has subjected the university to encroachment by people and animals, and in many places to the stealing of the electricity distribution cables by unscrupulous elements.
“The lingering dispute with the host community over part of the land has also been worrisome. Any effort to assist in safeguarding the university from potential threat shall be warmly welcome,” he said.
Umar also disclosed that the convocation was the first by the university, noting that it covered 2017/2018 to 2022/2023 academic sessions, a total of five sessions.
He added that 3,373 graduands were awarded degree certificates of the university.