Musa Umar Kazaure
30 April 2004
Saturday the 17th of April 2004 was a special day for one of Nigeria's prestigious universities, the Bayero University Kano. It was the day it marked its 40th year anniversary, as well as its 22nd Convocation ceremony. It was a memorable moment for the 5937 graduates who were conferred with degrees, PhDs, Diplomas and Certificates, as well as three distinguished personalities that were awarded the prestigious Honorary Doctorate Degrees of the university. It was also a moment of stocktaking, projecting, reflection and forecasting the future of the institution by its administrators and leaders, who continue to struggle with the tide of changes coming from within and outside the university.
Of the 5937 graduates of the 2001\2002 session that got their degrees and certificates, 17 received their PhDs; 137 with Masters Degrees; 626 received Post Graduate Diplomas; 3,133 First Degrees; 2,022 got Diplomas and Certificates. Out of the Diploma recipients, 34 received prizes for exceptional performance in their areas of study.
Bayero University, Kano has expanded in both academic accomplishment and infrastructural development over the last few years. The university has had many of its existing academic programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission, and professional bodies such as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) even as it diversifies its academic offerings by creating undergraduate and doctoral programmes, as well as establishing new departments in Social Sciences, Management Sciences, the Humanities and Applied Sciences.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Musa Abdullahi, the management of the institution has also succeeded in reviving many dormant academic journals, and enhanced funding for scholarly research including community research and training, as can be seen in the outstanding performance of Center for Democratic Research and Training, MAMBAYA HOUSE. Academic Links have also been established with international institutions in UK, USA, Poland and world reputable foundations, which only confirm the growing international standing of Bayero University Kano.
The Vice Chancellor who was addressing graduands and invited visitors to the 22nd Convocation ceremony in Kano, said with the financial support and goodwill of neighbouring state governments, the Education Tax Fund, Bank of The North, Central Bank, NDIC, MacArthur Foundation of USA and Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the university has succeeded in expanding its infrastructure which now includes expanded library facilities, new electric generators, student hostels on the new campus, and at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, two office blocks and a Central Laboratory Complex at the Old Campus, with high tech equipments and research facilities. Others include a new building for the university Health Services, a new 1000 seater lecture theatre at the new campus, a Center for Social and Economic Research, a center for Information Technology, new IT facilities, a new convocation square and so on.
He specifically mentioned MacAuthur Foundation, which has assisted the university with over 300 million Naira over a period of three years which helped in no small way to facilitate the take off of the Faculty of Agriculture of the university. He also announced that the institution had not received any capital grant since 2001 and the University's Endowment Fund launched at the 21st Convocation was intended to address the steady decline in government's funding to universities, and also the new concept of university autonomy introduced by the federal government. Over three Hundred Million Naira was realized in cash and kind during the launching of the Fund, he said, adding that though most of the pledges have been fulfilled, but there are still few that are still outstanding. He appealed to friends of the university to assist the institution to ensure its continuous growth and transformation as a center of excellence.
Prof. Musa had a special appeal to the federal government on the issue of funding. "For the past three years we have not received any capital grant from government, and the overhead grant to run the services have dwindled to a halt, so that this university today receives about 2 million Naira a month to run its services. This amount is not even enough to pay our monthly NEPA bill. No meaningful teaching and research can take place under this circumstances.'" He told the august gathering.
It was however the powerful speech of the Chancellor of BUK, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Ooni of Ife, that drove home the true picture of the critical position of Nigeria's university system when he warned that "any nation or society that does not take its education system seriously is dong so at its own peril, and generations yet to come may live to regret it." The Royal father continued, "The sacrifice of training our teeming youths to become better citizens and to also effectively take over leadership positions in the political and economic sector should never be seen as too heavy a burden to be shouldered.
The Chancellor advocated for a joint funding of Nigerian Universities by other tiers of government, private organizations and the parents, adding that the students should also appreciate the sacrifice and huge investment the nation is making to equip them to become better and self reliant citizens. They should therefore reciprocate by shunning anti-social behaviors such as cultism and examination malpractices on their campuses.
To the other members of the university community_ the BUK Chancellor Oba Okunade Sijuade advised "Members of staff and their various unions should show more tolerance, understanding and exemplary behaviour expected of university staff. Negotiations rather than confrontation should be the key word in their demand for welfare packages for their members. Incessant strike is now old fashioned in the face of democracy. "
President Obasanjo's speech which was delivered by Vice President Atiku Abubakar gave an insight into his new economic project, NEEDS (National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy), describing it as a homegrown development strategy developed by Nigerians, to be implemented by Nigerians, and for the benefit of Nigerians.
Said he, "NEEDS aims at embarking on institutional and economic reforms that will accelerate overall growth, create employment and reduce poverty. It aims at reforming the public sector for better service delivery, for accountability and for transparency.'
The President however reiterated that there is no going back on the cutting of funding to universities, saying" No stone will be left unturned in our march towards making the nation's citadels of learning discharge their vital roles of imparting knowledge. Our universities must however come to terms with the realities of our time. In the face of dwindling resources and with competing demands from other sectors of our national life, they must strive to complement government's effort towards funding the educational sector."
President Obasanjo however has cheering news for the universities on alternative sources of funding capital projects, which is through the education Tax Fund. He also added, "In addition, the Federal Government will honour its obligations by releasing capital grants after the approval of this year's budget"
The Pro-Chancellor of Bayero University Professor Ochapa Onazi took time to explain, in a nutshell, the achievements of the three distinguished Nigerians who were honoured with the university's Honorary Doctorate Degree which form the basis for their selection.
"The first Honorary Graduand, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, the Late Emir of Kano whom we are honouring posthumously, was a well respected and inspiring leader, who dedicated a lot of his energy and resources to the development of education, and who will forever be fondly remembered for his contributions in several fields of human endavour. We are proud to recognize his everlasting legacies. "
Going further, Professor Onazi who is also the chairman Governing Council of the University, said, "The second Honorary Graduand, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Turakin Adamawa, whom we are honoring today, is another distinguished personality in contemporary Nigeria, who, in addition to studiously giving his best to his country as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has also been tirelessly encouraging and supporting many worthy causes, unadvertised and unheralded, thereby impacting positively on the lives and livelihood of many of our compatriots. We Are proud to join numerous other institutions and organizations in recognizing your worth and bestowing additional honour where honour is due."
The Pro-Chancellor said "the third recipient of the university's prestigious Honorary Doctorate Award, Dr. Otunba Ayora Bola Kuforiji Olubi, has for long been an icon, some say 'Iron Lady', of the Nigerian banking and financial sector, who has also, through her selfless public and community services, impacted positively on the lives of many Nigerians. Her contributions are legendary and her impact profound, and she deserved to be honoured here today."
Being the last convocation in the tenure of the governing council which he headed, the Pro-Chancellor listed some of the achievements of the council which includes the completion of abandoned projects which were inherited; additional structures were put in place, while the physical and academic environment has been improved upon. He hoped that the Council, the management, Staff and Students of the university have been partners in progress in uplifting the image, academic and physical standard of Bayero University Kano. He also paid glowing tribute to the out-going Vice Chancellor, Professor Musa Abdullahi, to whom he attributed the successes achieved during the period.
"He has been a great administrator, an astute and capable manager of the complex organization that the Nigerian University is, and a model lesson in human relations. The council enjoyed cordial relationship with him, and we worked well together to create what I now consider to be a solid foundation for the future growth and development of Bayero University."
The 22nd Convocation ceremony which was held inside the new Auditorium complex completed just a few days before the convocation, was not without the usual side attractions which this time was more of politics because of the presence of dynamic political gurus at the venue. There were the placard carrying youths who were calling on the Vice President to contest the 2007 presidential election. There were the PDP group yelling" Sai Atiku, Sai Kwankwaso" and there were the concerned university students whose placards simply said Save our University System from collapse, Atiku"
The peaceful conduct of the convocation made it one of the successful convocations held by Bayero University, Kano.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2004 Daily Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
