Zulum advocates hard work, humility at Al-Hikmah anniversary

Governor Babangana Zulum of Borno State has charged faith-based institutions to produce graduates trained in spirituality and morality to bail Nigeria out of its present moral decadence and social vices.

He made the call while delivering the 20th-anniversary lecture of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme: ‘Two Decades of Excellence: Al-Hikmah University’s Impact on Scholarship and Educational Development in Nigeria.

Zulum urged Nigerian youths to imbibe humility and hard work. He recalled that he was the son of a peasant farmer and a commercial driver plying Maiduguri-Okene-Ibadan roads, and advised the youths to also respect their parents, sacrifice for humanity and love for hard work.

He noted that shortcuts to anything in life would usually end in regret and disaster, saying: “Hard work is good, but humility takes you far in life.

“Hard work is one thing, but humility is the best. When I finished my Masters degree, I went to my village to go to the farm with my parents. I could have remained in Maiduguri wearing babanrigan, but because I have to be obedient to my parents, I am what I am today”, he said.

In his remarks, the former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, described the founder of Al-Hikmah University, Dr Abdulraeem Oladimeji, as a great contributor to quality education in Nigeria.

The former Governor of Katsina State said Oladimeji’s efforts at prioritising education in Nigeria had contributed meaningful impact on the lives of Nigerian youths.

In his address at the anniversary dinner/award night of the university, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Noah Yusuf, regretted that the most pressing challenge of the university was inadequate funds.

The V.C. also said the spiral effect of the funding challenge explained the inability to meet some critical needs of the university.
He, therefore, appealed for support from friends of the university in constructing hostels; faculty buildings, classrooms and offices, to be endowed after the names of the donors.

He added the lack of scholarship grants to indigent students and research funding for academic staff of the university to the problems facing the varsity.

MEANWHILE, Zulum has approved N1.4 billion for the dualisation of the road to the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIA), Maiduguri.

According to him, the road project is to upgrade the Maiduguri airport to an international standard for passenger and cargo flights in the Northeast.

Briefing journalists, the Commissioner of Works, Mustapha Gubio, stated: “The road network will ease the movement of traffic and commuters to the international airport of Maiduguri.