We Aim To Foster Human Capital Development

The speech delivered by Governor Umar A. Namadi of Jigawa State at the 2nd combined convocation ceremony of Sule Lamido University.

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and Most Merciful.

It is with profound gratitude to Allah and immense delight that we are gathered here today to mark the Second Convocation Ceremony of Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa (SLUK), almost 13 years since it was established by Law No. 6 of 2013

I recall the first historic convocation ceremony of the University took place on Saturday, December 1, 2018. That was a significant milestone in the history of the university for which we commend its founding fathers and administrators.

It is also with a high sense of responsibility and privilege that I am delivering this address as the Visitor to the University, over seven years since the first convocation ceremony. By all means, today’s occasion is very auspicious and dear to all of us, as we celebrate the graduation of six cohorts of first-degree graduates from 2018/2019 to 2024/2025 academic sessions and the award of honorary Doctorate Degrees to some deserving personalities.

I most warmly rejoice with the members of the University Community on this, yet another historic and memorable occasion.

Allow me to also express my heartfelt appreciation to all distinguished guests present today, who, despite demanding schedules, have graciously accepted our invitation to attend this significant occasion and celebrate with us.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Chancellor of the University, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Umar Faruk II, OON, the Emir of Katagum, for accepting the appointment by the Jigawa State Government to serve as the Second Chancellor of this esteemed institution of learning.

Let me also take this opportunity, on behalf of myself, the Government and People of Jigawa State, to express our profound gratitude to Prof Jibrin Muhammad Jibrin, previously the Director Centre for Dry Land Agriculture, Bayero University Kano and presently, President, Nigeria Soil Science Society. We are very grateful that Prof. Jibrin has spared time out of his tight schedule to be here with us and to deliver the Convocation Lecture.

It is with great respect and admiration that I also extend a heartfelt welcome to His Excellency Alhaji (Dr.) Sule Lamido, CON, during whose tenure this University was founded. Your Excellency, Sir, the enduring legacy of your visionary leadership is the very foundation upon which we stand today.

The people of Jigawa State will always be truly thankful of your commitment and foresight, which made the establishment of this University possible. Talking about the University’s founding fathers, I believe we should also express our appreciation to the current Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, who was its pioneer Vice-Chancellor for his immense contributions in setting the foundation of the University.

I equally appreciate and felicitate with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Haruna Abdullahi Birniwa, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim and indeed all other Principal Officers, Members of the University Senate and Faculties. It is your dedication and drive that make today’s occasion possible.

As I mentioned earlier, today’s occasion is yet another milestone achieved in the evolution of this University. The investiture of the Second Chancellor, alongside the conferment of degrees and the presentation of awards to six cohorts of graduates, serves as clear evidence that our pioneering State University has truly come of age. Thousands of its alumni are now actively engaged in diverse sectors, making substantial contributions to the advancement of our beloved State and the Nation as a whole.

Their achievements encapsulate our shared aspirations for national progress and development. Many may be facing challenge of the Nigerian labour market, notwithstanding, having gone through the grilling sessions of the University, I am confident that their resilience, skills and integrity will enable them to  overcome obstacles and seize emerging opportunities to bring pride to the Alma Mater and our State.

For today’s graduands, today marks the reward of years of hard work, discipline, sacrifice and perseverance. I commend and rejoice with your parents and guardians for their support. I salute the lecturers and nonteaching staff whose dedication has greatly contributed to shaping the quality of the graduates we are celebrating.

As you turn a new leaf in your life, I urge you to uphold the values that define true education. Let your character reflect integrity, hard work, empathy and service to humanity. Wherever you find yourselves, you should be the proud worthy ambassadors of your Alma Mater – Sule Lamido University Kafin Hausa.

On behalf of all the people of Jigawa State, I congratulate you and wish you Allah’s protection and guidance in your future endeavours.

Our esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is universally acknowledged that throughout history, education has stood as the cornerstone for societal advancement, driving economic growth, technological innovation, scientific discovery, research and development. It is one of the major determinants shaping the destiny of individuals, communities, and nations, profoundly influencing their prosperity and progress.

This is precisely why we placed education at the heart of our 12- point agenda. By prioritising education, we aim to foster human capital development, empower our youth with essential skills, and equip our society to meet the demands of an ever-changing world.

This commitment is clearly reflected in the allocation of approximately 26% to 30% of our annual budgets to the education sector over the past three years, coupled with robust budget implementation throughout this period. This has translated into significant improvements in infrastructure, teaching and learning outcomes, organisational environment, as well as pupils and students  enrolments with appreciable reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the State.

It is also worthy of note that in an effort to improve Technical and Vocational Education & Training in the State, we have transformed eight Senior Secondary Schools across the state into real Canters of Excellence with all the requisite teaching equipment and instructional materials. To support the TVET Program beyond secondary levels, we have also begun the transformation and improvement of our College of Remedial and Advanced Studies based in Babura so it could absorb students from the Centres of Excellence for higher certificates in line with the National TVET Curriculum.

As most of us are aware, not long ago, the Jigawa State Government procured the first private university in the State, located in Majia, Taura Local Government. This strategic move was undertaken not just to sustain the University, but most importantly to broaden access to quality higher education, foster academic excellence, and provide greater opportunities for our youth to pursue their educational aspirations within the State.

Since taking over the institutions, we have commenced actions to achieve these objectives. Having completed all the necessary accreditation and formalities with the National Universities Commission, a Bill is now before the State Legislature seeking to transform the institution into a Specialised University for Medical and Allied Health Sciences.

It is also our intention to operate the University based on a Public-Private Partnership. 12. Since assuming office, we have made substantial strides across all our tertiary educational institutions, focusing on the development and revitalisation of essential infrastructure, enhancement of human resources, getting new courses accreditations and renewing lapsed ones. Numerous institutional and administrative reforms have been implemented to foster academic excellence. At Sule Lamido University.

I recall at the time we came  in, many projects had been ongoing, with some unfortunately delayed for extended periods. Staying true to our commitment, not only have we resumed and completed these projects, but we have also embarked on fresh initiatives. We aspire to elevate SLUK to the status of a world-class institution, highly ranked both within Nigeria and internationally, In Shaa Allah.

As we gradually pursue our vision for this premier State University, I am delighted to inform this distinguished gathering that our Administration is currently undertaking the following major projects. i. Construction of a state-of-the-art Faculty of Medicine ii. Construction of the University Sabbatical Lodge iii. Construction of the Official Residences of Five Principal Officers of the University iv. Construction of 3 student hostels with 480-bed capacity for each v. Construction of Centre for Wetland Research vi. Construction of a new convocation arena.

In addition to the billions of Naira that have been expended and committed to these projects, I am pleased to mention that we also planned to commence the provision of internal road networks in the Institution, including in some of the other tertiary educational institutions in the State. These will also gulp a couple of billions of Naira.

Other significant accomplishments undertaken during the period included enhancement of essential utilities, with particular emphasis on ensuring a reliable power supply and sustainable access to safe drinking water, provision of official and utility vehicles and staff development to promote optimum productivity and uphold professional standards.

It is worthy of note that the construction of the Wetland Research Centre reflects our bid to conserve and manage wetland ecosystems to ensure their  sustainability, biodiversity, and ecological functions in Jigawa State. The centre is expected to conduct scientific research, provide data for policy formulation, educate the public and develop strategies for wetland restoration, carbon sequestration, and mitigating climate change. Indeed, this initiative will further be supported by the State Policy on Climate Change, which is presently awaiting approval by the State Executive Council.

The Policy sets out a robust and comprehensive framework to tackle climate-related risks, enhance our resilience, and promote environmental sustainability, which is crucial for Jigawa State, considering our significant reliance on rain-fed agriculture, vulnerability to desertification, and recurrent flooding.

Beyond the education sector, we are also pursuing several other initiatives, also squarely focused on human capital development, including the empowerment of our youth and the development of ICT and the digital economy.

At this juncture, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the University leadership, led by its distinguished Vice-Chancellor, along with the heads of faculties, for their unwavering cooperation and dedication to advancing our administration’s achievements in the education sector.

In line with our commitment to uphold robust governance within the University, we have entrusted the Governing Council to a team we consider highly capable of elevating our esteemed institution to new heights, under the stewardship of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council – another eminent Professor who has devoted many decades to the educational progress of Jigawa State and Nigeria as a whole.

I am aware that Professor Haruna Abdullahi Birniwa, Chairman of the Governing Council, has recently retired from Usmanu Danfodiyo University 8 Sokoto, after a distinguished career as an academic and educationist. I tend to think that hardly do Professors completely retire. They may retire, but certainly they will not be tired. Their passion for knowledge and service remains undiminished. I therefore believe you will continue to deploy your knowledge and decades of experience in service to humanity.

May Allah continue to reward you most abundantly.

Let me close my remarks by restating the Government’s commitment towards supporting this pioneer State University to compete favourably among its peers. As I mentioned, education remains our most sustainable investment, and for any entity, there is no greater asset than its human resources.

The Government will therefore continue to provide steadfast support to the University – and indeed to all our tertiary educational institutions – to empower them to excel and contribute meaningfully to the advancement and development of our beloved State.

We urge the University, as well as all our tertiary educational institutions, to actively pursue collaborations and partnerships that enhance teaching, foster innovation, and promote research and development, both within Nigeria and internationally. Special attention should be directed towards initiatives that drive innovation and economic growth, enhance sustainable livelihoods, create opportunities for our youth, and address the developmental needs of our State.

Once again, I congratulate the graduands and the recipients of honorary doctorate awards. I commend the University leadership on this successful convocation. I wish you all safe travels and continued success.

Thank You and God Bless.

Wassalam Alaikum