By: Jibrin Ndace/Niger State
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has cautioned against development and introduction of many conflicting and confusing national educational policies, if the sector must be re-positioned for effective societal development.
He gave the caution at the 2nd Convocation ceremony of the State owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, in Lapai Local Government area of the state.
The Governor said functional education remains the main factor for a positive change of the country’s developmental narratives, stressing that lip service should no longer be made in the sustenance of the sector.
According to him, his administration is to establish a Tertiary Education Fund to rescue and improve the status of tertiary education in the state and informed his administration commitment to placed priority on tertiary education, especially the state owned University.
“Gathering increased funding to the institution twice in the last three years; aside other developmental projects have been undertaken by the government.
“We must move away from lip service and wishful thinking. We should take practical steps to reposition the education sector in this country and not necessarily developing too many conflicting and confusing national educational policies”.
“This development has grossly enabled the University to meet its responsibilities to research, clear all outstanding earned academic allowances, ensure prompt payment of Staff wages and helped to mitigate management and staff face-off” He stressed.
He however, assured the University of the State and Local Governments continued support to enable the institution fulfills its primary mandate.
Earlier, the Chancellor of the University and Emir of Minna, Alhaji (Dr.) Umar Farouk Bahago commended Governor Bello for his doggedness, efforts and contributions towards revamping the educational sector of the state.
He appealed for more support from the state government to enable the university competes with her counterparts across the globe.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare explained that the convocation was a combination of four sets of graduands (2014-2017).
He said out of the 6,348 students who are convocated, 29 bagged First Class Honours Degree, 1,281 earned Second Class Upper, 3,290 in Second Class Lower category, 1,613 in Third Class while 135 obtained Pass Degree.
Professor Maiturare noted that out of the 118 Postgraduate students, 82 had Postgraduate Diploma while 36 graduated with Masters Degrees.
