President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State to intervene in the land dispute between the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and the neighbouring communities to resolve it.
The president made the call at the 39th convocation ceremony of Bayero University, Kano yesterday.
Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, called on the governor to intervene by issuing the university the title deed it deserves.
He said the government was aware of the challenge of lack of perimeter fencing faced by the university and had made some funds available to construct a fence round the institution.
The president further called on universities in the country to leverage on research conducted in order to develop alternative sources of power in the face of increasing electricity tariffs.
“The government is aware of the difficulties universities are facing in terms of increasing electricity tariffs which culminated in huge bills. We are making significant efforts to make sure that the condition stabilises so that our universities can function optimally.
“However while we are making these conscious efforts, I would like to implore our universities to leverage on the research conducted in order to come up with little solutions in terms of alternative power supply,” President Tinubu stated.
He directed the university governing councils and the senate to restore the lost academic culture of universities in order to ensure that they produce quality graduates who can measure up to global standards.
Earlier, the vice chancellor, Prof. Sagir Abbas, lamented the high cost of electricity which he said had gulped one quarter of the revenue generated by the institution while appealing to the government to reduce electricity tariff for educational institutions.
He also appealed to the government to increase financial support for research and innovations to the institution, noting that investing in innovations is investing in the growth and development of the nation.
Prof. Abbas appealed to the Kano State government to expedite action on issuance of C-of-O to the institution to put an end to land disputes and encroachment by unauthorised persons.
