The 12th convocation of the faith-based Alh-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State provided an ample opportunity for stakeholders to x- ray the negative effects of the incessant strike actions by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU); and drug abuse by some students on the Nigerian university education.
They also spoke on the need for adequate funding of the universities by the government and public spirited individuals.
Speakers at the three- day activities packed event included the vice chancellor of Al- Hikmah university, Prof Noah Yusuf, chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari,Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and a former commisssioner for Finance in Lagos State,Mrs Foluke Kafayat AbdulRazaq, amongst others.
Others are the chancellor and pro- chancellor of Al-Hikmah university, Alh Sayyu Dantata and Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf respectively.
All the speakers dwelled on issues affecting the smooth running of the universities, especially the public ones.
The vice chancellor of Al- Hikmah university, Prof Yusuf threw the first salvo during a news conference that heralded the convocation ceremony when he lamented the incessant strike actions by ASUU members.
He disclosed that due to prolonged ASUU strikes, students in public universities are now seeking transfer to private universities.
Yusuf said the university has witnessed upsurge in the number of students seeking transfer to it from public universities.
“ Private universities are recording upsurge in the number of students from public universities seeking transfer because of the stable academic calendars at the private universities.
“ At Al- Hikmah university we have witnessed upsurge in the number of enrolment and students from the public universities seeking to complete their courses here because of our stable academic calendar,” he added.
Yusuf who rued the incessant strike actions by ASUU, however, advised the federal government to accord education topmost priority.
He reasoned that education remains the only solution to multifarious security problems bedevilling Nigeria,noting that well educated youths would not indulge in banditry and other social vices now rampant amongst the Nigerian youths.
He further disclosed that some school leavers who recently got admission into the university tested positive to drugs.
Yusuf disclosed this in his speech during the 12th convocation of the institution last Saturday.
Yusuf said:” It was painful to the management to discover that students who just finished secondary school a few months ago and sat for university qualifying examination, got duly admitted , only to tested positive to drugs two weeks during registration procedure.
“ The irony of it all is that the parents admitted that the children are under their care and tutelage!!! If such a fresher who tested positive to drugs was not discovered through the rigorous admission screening at the onset, the multiplier effects in four or five years of his stay in the university would spell great disaster.
“ This is therefore, a clarion call to parents in particular and the society at large to devote more attention to our children. Individually and collectively, let us join hands together with NDLEA to fight this ugly monster. A stitch in time saves many. My colleague vice chancellors may wish to borrow a leaf from this discovery and put in place measures to screen prospective students immediately on admission before they mix with, and influence innocent ones.”
He said that the university produced a total number of 1,047 undergraduates, 184 post graduates and 49 diplomas in the 2021/2022 academic year.
Yusuf, who said that the academic feat was due to availability of qualified lecturers and the commitment of the students to their academic excellence, added that the commitment of the university’s management to the vision and mission of the university also played significant role
The vice chancellor urged the graduands not to forget all the moral values the university has inculcated in them.
“ To my graduating students, today marks a turning point in your lives. You are now proud ambassadors of Al- Hikmah university. Do not drag the good name and sterling image of this institution into the mud. Step by step, as you climb the ladder of life, I wish you all the best, all the way to the destiny Almighty Allah has mapped out for you,” he added.
The chancellor, Alh Sayyu Dantata said the university is in dire need of financial assistance as it has commenced gradual movement to, “it’s over 300 hectares of land at its Atere permanent site.
“However, since every success is almost always the beginning of another problem, infrastructural deficiency at the permanent site reared its head. The university is therefore in dire need of assistance to make teaching and learning conducive at Atere,” Dantata stated.
The pro- chancellor and chairman of council of the university, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf said,” right from the onset, the council had prioritised provision of infrastructural facilities that would enhance teaching and learning. These facilities have helped in attracting more students as the university’s admission’s figure for 2021/22 and the ongoing admissions doubled those of the figures of the previous three years.”
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the secretary to the state government,Prof Mamma Saba Jubril, urged the graduands not to abuse the certificates awarded them by the university.
He charged them to be of good conduct in the outside world, warning that if found wanting in character, the university could withdraw their certificates.
Delivering the 12th convocation lecture titled, Democratic Transition and Challenges of Good Governance and Human Security in Nigeria”, the chief of staff to President to Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari enjoined Nigerians not allow any form of militarised governance to truncate the nation’s democracy.
He counseled Nigerians that despite the plethora of challenges facing the country democratic governance still offer the best chance for achieving goals of national transformation.
Gambari, who said that the unity of the country provides the most solid platform for realising the national greatness, added that, “we must not permit the enemies of the Nigerian state to triumph over the legitimate aspiration for a united, peaceful and prosperous nation”.
He posited that challenges of human security afflicting democracies is a global phenomenon, adding that: “The central question that is posed is how democracy can be renewed and reinvigorated to better serve the needs of citizens?
“It is here that I feel the Nigerian scholarly community in general has its work cut out for, including you at Al- Hikmah. At a time of when students of democracy around the world are stepping up their work on how democratic governance could be recalibrated to meet the challenges of very rapidly changing times, our scholarly community must rise to the challenge of how, in our context, elected government can be ushered to a new phase that will enable leaders to answer the problems of the day”.
The presidential aide said that obstacles to the nation’s quest for delivery of dividends of democracy are a number of domestic factors.
“Among these factors is the significantly weakened capacity of our public service institutions, the persistence of corruption in the public sector, especially, and a sharp decline in ethical values in society.
“In the face of these challenges, generalised human security has proved quite elusive to win. As unemployment, poverty, and inequality have persisted, a fertile ground has fostered itself as to enable the emergence of an array of enemies of Nigerian democratisation.
“These anti-democratic forces include the admixture of radical extremist groups, trans-frontier and home-grown criminal gangs, different groups of pirates, and bearers of violent ethno-regional irredentism, etc.
“Combatting these groups and countering their anti-secular, separatist and violent ideologies have been at the heart of the governance of national security.
“Under President Muhammadu Buhari, significant strides have been made in the implementation of the administration tripod programmes on security, economy and anti-corruption.
“The score card is there for any objective analysis. In addition to massive infrastructural projects and his commitment to free and fair elections.
“At the end of his second and final tenure in office, on May 29, 2023, the president would leave Nigeria a legacy of safer, more diversified and growing economy and more united country than he inherited in 2015,” Gambari added
Three distinguished Nigerians; Mr Tajudeen Fola Adeola, Mrs Mosun Bello- Olusoga and Mrs Foluke Kafayat AbdulRazaq, the wife of the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq were awarded honorary doctorate degrees at the event.
Mrs Foluke Kafayat AbdulRazaq who responded on behalf of her co- awardees thanked the founder, Alh AbdulRaheem Oladimeji and the management of the institution for the honour done them.
He announced a donation of N50m on behalf of the trio, promising that they would continue to do their best at ensuring the upliftment of the university.
The convocation lecture was attended by eminent personalities, including the representatives of Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, former vice chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof Sulaiman Adeyemi, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq,the Mutawali of Ilorin , a business mogul, Alh Jani Ibrahim, former Grand Khadi of Kwara State, Justice Abdullahi Haroon, special advisers on Strategy, Political Communication, Alh Saadu Salahu and Alh Bashiru Adigun respectively, special assistant on Religion ( Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro, Dr Mohamed Ghali Alaaya, amongst others.
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