NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
The governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule says his administration awarded ninety-two scholarship slots to students of Phoenix University to encourage the institution. The university is the first indigenous university in Nasarawa State. He also noted that as a beneficiary of free education, it was incumbent on him to support successive generations to access education. The governor stated this at the inaugural matriculation, conferment of a doctorate degree, honoris causa and investiture of the Chancellor, Dr. Muhammadu Indimi in Agwada, Nasarawa State, on Monday.
“I want to call on the ones we have given scholarships to be serious. Nasarawa State is not one of the wealthiest states, but for us to give scholarships to 92 students, it means you have to be the best that you can be. And I know that they have been commending us for giving you this scholarship. I have several reasons why this scholarship must be given. First, this is the first Indigenous university that we have in Nasarawa State. So, if the government of Nasarawa State does not support it, no other person should. Therefore, we are out there to support you yesterday, today and tomorrow by the grace of God. My second reason is that I also come from a humble background. I did not come from a rich home but I went all the way to the university in America. So, I have no reason whatsoever not to give scholarships. We will continue to support you on that and by the grace of God, you will be successful,” said Sule while congratulating the matriculant on their academic journey.
The governor praised the quality of infrastructure put in place for smooth teaching and learning. He called on the students to take full advantage of these structures to advance their pursuits. “When I visited this university for the first time as the guest of honour, I had the opportunity of being taken to some places we were not taken today. Number is your lab. You have one of the most complicated and sophisticated labs. Being a technical person myself, I always look forward to a lab where we can do all our chemical analyses properly both chemistry and physics. We are a state of solid mineral, I see a lab where you have the opportunity to carry out a true analysis and be able to come out with chemical solutions that you will be able to find. When I went to the ICT depart and I saw all the ideas, initiatives about Artificial Intelligence, AI, I got so excited and I said this is going to go far,” the governor said, advising that the Institution should partner with the existing State and Federal universities in the State.
In his address, Professor Ibrahim Gambari noted that although the young Institution is dependent on Visitors for its development, it has already broken new grounds and is scoring first in putting relevant facilities in place to achieve its mandate. “We are a new university but we are special already, in the sense that we have hit the ground running. You see, some universities, even Federal government universities not talk of private universities, they start with students but very few facilities for classrooms, for housing of the staff, ICT or library. That comes in bits and pieces. We hit the ground running, we already had everything in place before we admitted our first set of students. He also thanked Dr Abdullahi Adamu, the Visitor, for ensuring that the university is brought to a rural area to open up the space for social interactions. “And in doing so, we have another first. We are the first university to be this close to one of the primary functions of a university, which is town and gown. Whereas some wait for the gown, we have brought gown to the town,” Gambari, a former diplomat and chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari said.
Dr. Indimi responded by praising the vision of the proprietor in setting the school in its location. He pledged to continue to support the institution in its quest to succeed in its objectives.
In his speech, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu expressed his delight at seeing the university begin academic work. He equalled the feeling to that of a parent partaking in the arrival of a first child. “Very few things in life please a man than when he witnesses the birth of his first child. As a father and grandfather that I am, I am sufficiently experienced to tell of all the excitement that occupies the first cry of a newborn baby. That is the type of excitement that I feel as I address you today, on the occasion of the investiture of our first chancellor and matriculation ceremony of our pioneer students,” noting that “The establishment of institutions of learning has always been a calling for me. I know the transformative power of education. My lifelong quest has always been to invest in education. It is an asset that has enduring value and the knowledge acquired therein can never be taken away from the beneficiary,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdullahi Bala encouraged the students to enmesh themselves in learning, taking advantage of relevant curriculum and qualified teachers. “The opportunity of being trained with a dynamic and fit-for-purpose curriculum for the 21st Century delivered by qualified, skilled and experienced faculty. The curriculum is deliberately designed to produce students who are global players and who shall graduate with at least three certificates – one for the course of study, another for entrepreneurship and innovation and the third for professional certification. Additionally, all the faculty are PhD holders who have the requisite skills and experience for top quality curriculum design and delivery fit for purpose of 21st Century needs.” The academic implored them to devote adequate time to their studies.
Sule, Indimi at the ceremony