.Uwais, others to bag doctorates at 43rd convocation
As part of efforts to expand the frontiers of territory education in the country, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, has received $15,538,896 support from McArthur Foundation to enhance learning and research for national development.
The institution will also confer honorary doctoral degrees on the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammadu Uwais (rtd); former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the late Adamu Fika; and former African Union (AU) Representative to the United Nations (UN), Amb Arikana Chihombori-Quao, at its 43rd Convocation tomorrow.
Africa Regional Director of the foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, disclosed, yesterday, this at ABU’s Diamond Jubilee Public Lecture entitled, ‘The Challenges of Quality High Education in Africa’ in Zaria.
Shettima said the foundation was very excited about its interventions at the university, which includes the installation of fibre optics cable and linking of ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika, to Samaru and Kongo campuses.
He added that the foundation also supported 67 doctoral and 87 masters degrees students among other interventions.
Shettima appealed to the government and other key stakeholders to increase funding and transparency for the tertiary education sector in the country.
According to him, the transparency and accountability component was to ensure efficiency in service delivery in the sector and stem the `japa syndrome’.
He advised the alumni of the university to support their alma mater towards augmenting government’s efforts to further salvage the institution from its numerous challenges.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, ABU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, acknowledged the long relationship between the foundation and ABU, stressing that apart from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), no individual, local or international organisation has supported ABU like McArthur Foundation.
He said the university community remained indebted to the director of the foundation for the support in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, digitisation and automation of libraries, as well as establishment of some centres.
Bala said the centres include those for development communication, rural finance, veterinary, public health and reproductive health.
He noted that ABU was established in 1962, and that the diamond jubilee ought to have been celebrated in October/November 2022; but the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike did not allow the celebration to hold until now.
Chairman of the occasion, MunnirJa’afaru, urged the government to prioritise funding of tertiary education in Nigeria, noting education as the bedrock of national development.
He said: “It is a collective responsibility of Nigerians to ensure that tertiary institutions in the country have the necessary resources to flourish.”
Ja’afaru then urged the alumni of ABU to rally support for the institution, adding that the school has become a national asset that must be protected away from collapse.
According to a statement by the ABU Director of Public Affairs, Awwalu Umar, yesterday, President Bola Tinubu, who is the first visitor to the university, has approved the award of the honorary degrees to the three deserving candidates.
While Uwais will get Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa, Fika is recommended for post-humous conferment of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) Honoris Causa, and Chihombori-Quao is to receive Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Honoris Causa.
Umar said: “ABU’s decision to confer the eminent personalities with the honorary degrees is in accordance with Statute 11 of the institution’s laws.
“Uwais, who had an excellent career in the Nigerian judiciary and international judicial organisations from 1964 to 2006, rose through the ranks by dint of hard work and dedication to duty to become the CJN in 1995. His career is replete with record-breaking attainments that impacted positively on the Nigerian and international judiciary.”
