President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling all forms of banditry, kidnapping and other related criminality in the country.
He stated this Saturday in Katsina State at the 9th Convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Dutsinma.
The President, however, said tackling insecurity was not the responsibility of the government alone, just as citizens have a role to play by providing information to security operatives that would aid the fight.
The President, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Dutste, Jigawa State, Prof. Abdulkarim Mohammed, called on youths to leverage the Nigerian Loan Scheme, which over N70 billion has been disbursed to that effect.
Tinubu reminded Nigerians that governance is not about the presidency or those in places of leadership but about Nigeria and Nigerians, who will make the country better.
“I want to assure all Nigerians that the government is fully committed to combat and defeat all acts of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities in Nigeria.
“However, security is a collective responsibility. I urge all Nigerians to join hands with the government by giving them relevant information to security agents on suspicious persons, miscreants and other criminal elements”, according to President Tinubu.
The president also called on convocating students to be good ambassadors of the institution and the country at large, wherever they fund themselves.
He called on university lecturers to live up to expectations in grooming future leaders of the nation and charged them to take advantage of modern teaching methods using Information Communication Technology.
Earlier on his part, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Dutsinma, Prof. Armaya’u Bichi, highlighted the institution’s challenges, including insecurity, which has been the major problem of the university.
According to Bichi, “As we are aware, the security situation in and around Dutsin-Ma in recent times has made us abandon the main campus and crowd ourselves at the take-off campus of the university, which is grossly inadequate in structures and facilities to accommodate the 14 faculties and a large number of staff and students.
Also speaking, FUDMA Chancellor and Chairman of Convocation, King Jaja of Opobo, Dandeson Douglas, said the institution is not resting on its oars to improve the Internally Generated Revenue.
“The University has established a Consultancy Unit, Micro Finance Bank, Pure Water Factory, Staff Primary and Secondary Schools, and Printing Press to boost our IGR. As the Chancellor of this great university, I will continue to engage the Federal Government, Philanthropic organizations, stakeholders, Private Organizations, NGOs, businessmen and the Alumni of the university to solicit support to meet the needs of the university”.
Douglas further called on the attention of the President on lingering insecurity bedevilling the students’ community.
“I will be failing in my responsibility as the Chancellor of this great university if I do not draw your attention to the security challenges bedevilling the university, which has made the conduct of any activity at the main campus impossible. All activities of the university, including this Convocation Ceremony, are at the take-off campus, which is grossly inadequate in both structures and facilities for staff and students,” he said.
PUNCH Online reports that FUDMA graduated a total of 297 postgraduate students. Out of which, 18 have Ph.D, 226 have Masters, 53 have Professional Diplomas and have PGD.
Out of 4282 undergraduate students, 44 have first class, and 872 have second Class Upper. 2273 have second class lower, 1076 have third class, and 17 have pass degrees.