Education

“Enough is enough,” Buhari tells striking varsity teachers

Published

3 years ago

July 12, 2022

PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES NIGERIANS TO HAVE FAITH IN THE ARMED FORCES, VOWS TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONAL TEMPO ON SECURITY

“Enough is enough,” Buhari tells striking varsity teachers

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called on ASUU members to reconsider their position on the ongoing strike, saying “enough is enough.’’

The union began the strike on Feb. 14.

The president expressed worry that the strike would have generational consequences on families, the educational system and the future development of the country.

Malam Garba Shehu, his media aide, stated that Buhari made the call when he received some governors, legislators and political leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence in Daura, Katsina State.

The visitors were in Daura to pay Sallah homage to the president.

Buhari noted that the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues begging for attention.

He noted also that Nigeria’s future rested on the quality of education.

He assured also that the government understood the union’s position, but that negotiation should continue with students in lecture halls.

“We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,’’ he said.

The president called on all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to ASUU leaders and members to persuade the lecturers to reconsider their position and its effect on an entire generation and the nation.

According to Buhari, Nigerian students will be faced with the challenge of competing with others in technology-driven workspaces.

Keeping them at home, he argued, only deprived them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.

“Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there.

“Our young people should get an education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.

“Through technology, we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get an education not only to look for government jobs,’’ he stressed.

Buhari said resources should be channelled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sectors, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.

“By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and in the remaining months I will do my best,’’ the President assured.

He urged those in political positions and places of privilege to be mindful in helping the many Nigerians that were looking for opportunities.

“If you are greedy, you won’t look around to see what is happening with those who are less-endowed,’’ Buhari noted.

The president told his guests that he had not been to his house in Daura for close to a year because of the demands of the office.

“The observation that I abandoned my base was made by the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, at the Eid prayer ground.

“He held the microphone and told everyone that the last time I was in Daura was during the Eid-el-Kabir of 2021,’’ he mused.

President Buhari said he would retire to Daura and not Kaduna, where he has a better house.

“In 10 to 11 months; time, I will come here (Daura). I have a better house in Kaduna, but it is too close to Abuja,’’ he said.

The president explained that his work schedule was so heavy that he sympathised with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who had to be away from his family most of the time.

He urged the APC stalwarts to keep working for the good of the people and that of the country.

“ We are lucky people. We need to reflect more on where we are coming from,’’ h said.

The president said relative to the resources available, and compared to the preceding administration, the government had done well in many areas, particularly in infrastructure.

“I wish the person who is coming after me the very best,” he said.

On security, the president said the Northwest had posed more challenges, while some success had been recorded in other regions; the Northeast and South-South.

Buhari also admonished agitators in the South-South to stop vandalising national assets, an action which, he said, also affected their livelihoods.

“I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough. I am grateful to God that people appreciate the personal sacrifices we have been making,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Kebbi’s Gov. Abubakar Bagudu, thanked the president for his leadership role in improving the nation’s economy and the many successes recorded by the APC.

According to him, such successes include two conventions to produce the party leadership and the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We will work hard to ensure the success of our party. We have reasons to work very hard,’’ he stressed.

He noted that favourable weather conditions supported the vision of ensuring food production and making agriculture a priority with clear results in rice pyramids in various states.

“In spite of attacks by renegades, our country remains self-sufficient in food production. We have seen investments that were not there before you (Buhari) came into power.

“Not less than 20 states now have agriculture processing zones. We have rice pyramids in Ekiti, Gombe and Niger state, while maize pyramids were revived in Katsina and Kano states,’’ he said.

He added that more than 54 rice meals were inaugurated in various states, and 57 fertiliser plants were revived or built afresh.

“All these were achieved because of your commitment and patriotism,’’ the governor told Buhari.

Bagudu also appreciated the president for providing ease of access to governors and political leaders, noting that the opening of the National Economic Council for a more fluid exchange of ideas greatly helped in improving the economy.

APC governors at the lunch were Aminu Masari of Katsina State; Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Abubakar Bello of Niger.

Others were Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi.

“Enough is enough,” Buhari tells striking varsity teachers

Education

Zulum Approves Renaming of Borno State University to Kashim Ibrahim University

Published

2 months ago

January 7, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Approves Renaming of Borno State University to Kashim Ibrahim University

…considers House Numbering, Street Naming

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Executive Council has approved the renaming of Borno State University to Kashim Ibrahim University in honour of the first Governor of northern Nigeria.

This decision was reached during the first State Executive Council meeting of 2025, chaired by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum. The meeting, held at the Government House, lasted over six hours, as key issues affecting the state were discussed.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, revealed that the Council considered 42 memos and assessed the performance of the state in the previous year, along with projections for 2025.

Professor Tar further explained that the renaming of the university will be subject to legislative procedures and the necessary notifications to relevant authorities in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

“Council approved that Borno State University shall be renamed Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri. This is subject to further legislative work by the State Assembly to amend the law establishing the University. It is also subject to the ministry of education taking necessary action by informing relevant regulatory authorities like the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)”, Tar stated.

The council also approved street naming and house numbering in Maiduguri and other urban areas as part of the urban renewal drive of Governor Zulum’s administration.

“Maiduguri is fast developing, there are a lot of new buildings public roads and other facilities that need to be renamed. Council decided that relevant MDA’s shall meet with relevant agencies including Nigerian Postal Service, Nigerian Geological Survey, traditional rulers and community leaders to arrive at a new naming template”.

The Information Commissioner announced that when completed, the updated names across the state will be reflected on Google Maps, public directories, and official records to support effective development planning. “The process will begin immediately as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to enhance urban planning and governance”, he said.

Speaking at the first Executive Council meeting, Governor Babagana Zulum welcomed Council members into the new year, commending them for their unwavering commitment and support to his administration.

Governor Zulum emphasized his administration’s focus on scaling up post-conflict and post-flood recovery efforts, with the aim of delivering more impactful projects to further improve the lives of Borno citizens.

“In 2024, my administration achieved significant progress in the implementation of government programmes and projects and I am committed to doing even more in 2025,” Governor Zulum said.

The Executive Council meeting also included a valedictory session in honour of the outgoing Head of Service, Barrister Malam Fannami, who will be retiring from public service later this month. The Council expressed gratitude for his service and contributions to the development of the state

Zulum Approves Renaming of Borno State University to Kashim Ibrahim University

Education

VP SHETTIMA AT NASARAWA STATE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE GRADUATION

Published

2 months ago

January 4, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

VP SHETTIMA AT NASARAWA STATE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE GRADUATION

Our Reforms Creating Employment Opportunities, Greater Economic Prospects
Flags off distribution of relief materials to flood victims, tractors, paddy rice to farmers

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said the ongoing reforms initiated by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are such that will create employment opportunities for the youth population as well as provide greater opportunities in the various sectors of the economy.

He underscored the inevitability of skills acquisition among the young demographic in Nigeria, noting that the nation can no longer afford to keep growing a population of idle, unemployed and unemployable youths.

The Vice President spoke on Friday during the Combined Graduation Ceremony of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The Vice President stated: “The danger of paying lip service to technical and vocational skills acquisition is one none of us is prepared to experience, and the examples of various low- and middle-income countries, especially the Asian Tigers, are there to inspire the direction of our National Development Plans and push our economic drive towards a destination we all desire—a place of boom.

“This is why His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has championed economic reforms beyond the usual cosmetic fixes to lay the groundwork for greater opportunities ahead. With increased allocations to the states, I believe that we are more than energised to fund our development programmes”.

Recalling Nigeria’s origin as an agrarian nation, Senator Shettima noted that there is no greater inspiration than concentrating on “the magnitude of initiatives made possible by the proceeds of the sector and the hard work of those skilled and unskilled workers who were the fulcrum of our pre-oil economy”.

He said the graduation ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate the sincerity of the administration’s promise to create avenues for upskilling and reskilling the nation’s workforce across sectors.

VP Shettima pointed out that the institute is a vehicle through which the APC-led government fulfils its promise to Nigerians to “prioritise poverty reduction, employment generation, and job creation”.

Cautioning against harbouring the population of unemployed youths in the country, he said, “The reality we inherited points to the existence of a link between youth unemployment, violence, and other associated crimes, and as such, we cannot afford to create an idle, unemployed, or unemployable demographic.

“Our response, over which we gather here today, is to build on our agenda of providing our youths with skills to either find gainful employment or become self-reliant. This grand event, the Combined Graduation Ceremony for the graduands of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia, aligns with the direction the world is headed—the path of skill acquisition.”

The VP applauded the foresight of Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, which he said is being manifested in his aspiration to turn the state “into a hub of jobs and opportunities.”

Senator Shettima who had earlier flagged off the distribution of relief materials to flood victims, presentation of tractors and paddy rice to farmers in the state said it was a demonstration of his “affinity for Nasarawa State, and as a Kanuri man who has ancestral connections with some segments” of the state that has already become home to him.

He also commended the institute for graduating no fewer than 9,000 graduands barely three years of its existence, even as he charged the graduands to join relevant associations and cooperatives to enable them access loan facilities and learn from the experiences of those ahead of them in their respective enterprises.

Earlier in his remarks, Governor Sule said the skills programme of the state vocational and technology institute was designed to address the skills gap in critical sectors and empower young Nigerians.

He thanked Vice President Shettima for finding time to visit the state, and for supporting its modest contributions to economic transformation and youth empowerment.

In his remarks, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the courage and efforts of the state government in impacting the lives of young Nigerians through the various schemes in agriculture and vocational and technology training.

On his part, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Lordship, Hassan Kukah, thanked Nasarawa State government for the efforts to address poverty through skills acquisition and economic empowerment initiative, just as he emphasised the significance of empowering young people with skills to impact their communities and societies.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational Technology Institute, Dr Daniel Asele said the 1,000 graduands of the 2024 programme of the institute had undergone rigorous training and acquired skills that are relevant to contemporary challenges of their communities and state at large.

In a goodwill message, the Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Adewale Oyerinde, commended the Nasarawa State government for its commitment to empowering young Nigerians, saying the programme would significantly impact ongoing efforts to transform and industrialise the economy by providing the necessary skilled manpower to drive the processes.

On his part, the Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd), thanked the Vice President for his support and commitment to the people of Nasarawa State, pledging the loyalty of the traditional council to the federal government’s programmes and policies.

High points of the event were the presentation of start-up packs and certificates to the graduands in welding, tailoring, and ICT among other fields.

Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima had earlier flagged the distribution of relief materials to flood victims in affected local government areas.

He also presented tractors and distributed Jangwa Paddi Rice from the proceeds of the pioneer Nasarawa Rice Farm project to 13 local government areas.

The VP commended Governor Sule for his exemplary leadership and sterling qualities, saying they have ensured peaceful co-existence among the different tribes in the state, and transformed agricultural production across the area.

The VP also toured the Olam warehouse where the produce of the Nasarawa State Rice Farm project for 2024 was stored.

Also present at the event were the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari; Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Danladi Jatau; Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Silas Agara, and other top government functionaries.

VP SHETTIMA AT NASARAWA STATE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE GRADUATION

Education

Borno State Scholarship Board Defends 2025 Budget Before State Assembly Committee

Published

2 months ago

December 20, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Borno State Scholarship Board Defends 2025 Budget Before State Assembly Committee

By: Our Reporter

This morning, the Borno State Scholarship Board, led by its Executive Secretary, Malam Bala Isa, appeared before the Borno State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation to defend its 2025 budget proposal.

The budget defense session was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Engr. Mohammed Gambomi Marte, representing Marte Constituency, with support from other committee members, including Hon. Mohammed Kawajjafa, representing Hawul Constituency.

During the session, the Scholarship Board outlined its proposed budgetary allocations and key initiatives aimed at improving access to education for Borno State students. The discussions emphasized the importance of continued scholarship programs to enhance educational opportunities and human capital development across the state.

Borno State Scholarship Board Defends 2025 Budget Before State Assembly Committee