A professor of Pharmacological Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Professor Dickson Achimugu Musa has said that Nigeria ranked eleventh in terms biodiversity in Africa with nine hundred species of plants, nine hundred and forty species of birds, three hundred and three mammals and four hundred and seventeen species of reptiles.

Professor Achimugu Musa made this known as the University’s Twenty First Inaugural Lecturer with title, “Exploring Nigeria’s Natural Treasure Trove: A Pharmacological Biochemistry Journey From Plant to Pill”, held at the institution’s auditorium, Lapai.

He stressed that Nigeria has the potential to lead in the research into medical plants to the development of new drugs and therapies, urging African researchers to collaborate and share expertise as well as skills in order to accelerate drug discovery efforts to ensure traditional medicine and modern pharmacology.

Professor Achimugu called on governments to provide support and funding, create policies to ensure safe and ethical exploration and use of natural resources for medical purpose for Pharmacological Biochemistry research in Nigeria and Africa.

The Inaugural Lecturer also urged researchers and universities to partner and invest in drug discovery research and infrastructure to promote biodiversity conversation and provide opportunity for the commercialization of successful research results.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, affirmed that plants turn to pills is very beneficial to major stakeholders in the sector, especially pharmaceutical companies.

The Vice Chancellor commended the twenty firsts inaugural lecturer for suggestions and coming up with ways on how plants turn to pills for health purposes, calling on other researchers to emulate the scholar in the area of specialization to bring economic, social and political benefits to the country.

Professor Abu Kasim also disclosed that fourteen Associates Professors have been promoted to professorial cadre, congratulating them for their doggedness and resilient at all time.

Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Conferences and Seminars, Professor Victor Are Kolawole explained that the lecture is in the area of herbal medicine, noting that products made from botanical or plants that are used to treat diseases or to maintain health take the day.

Professor Kolawole noted that this will be of strategic importance for the Research and Development Unit of the University as well as the center for Research Commercialisation for potency, adding that this could pave way for the establishment of Department of Pharmacology, a take off for the University’s drug manufacturing company.

In a vote of thanks, the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki appreciated the Governor of Niger State, Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Council, Management of the University and all other people present at the event.

Nigerian politicians have been called upon to give more priority to nation building than self centeredness.

The Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu made the called at the Nineth National Conference of the Department of History and International Studies held at the University Auditorium.

He urged politicians on to come together irrespective of ethnic and political affiliations to make Nigeria a better place to live.

The Conference is with the theme: “Power, Authority and Governance: Some Critical Challenges in the Post 2023 General Elections.

Professor Abu Kasim Adamu explained that while general elections are over and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed as the winner at the Supreme Court, there is the need for all political stakeholders to come together to finetune ways of moving the country forward.

The Vice Chancellor noted that with Nigeria facing a lot of challenges like general insecurity, poverty, food insecurity, infrastructural decay, education, health and other sectors that needed urgent attention, success will not be achieved without cooperation and contributions from all the relevant stakeholders.

In his welcome remarks the Head of Department of History and International Studies, Dr. Mamman Saba Abdulkadir highlighted the importance of the theme of the conference, saying Nigeria is passing through a challenging period since inception of the present democratic experience, 1999 to 2023 which requires the academia to take stock of milestone and challenges to chart out new ways.

He added that Nigeria is moving very close to a failed state scenario where the country leaders time and again neglect stewardship of public food in favor of zero sum political games and accumulation of personal and family wealth.

He also qouted the premier of Northern Region, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto who summed up the essence of government as “A government has no business of being a government if it is not built on an acceptable constitution that protect the rights, life and property of it citizens, guaranteed the rule of law and provides greater happiness among the greater numbers of the people”.

In his presentation the Keynote Speaker the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare x-rayed the 2023 elections as one of the most competitive presidential elections in the history of Nigeria, adding that power, authority and governance constitute the tripod upon which the destiny of nation rest.

He said that Nigeria faced serious challenges during and after the 2023 general elections, maintaining that the nineth conference of historians and social science scholars would explore the situation with the academic rigour.

Also in his presentation the Lead Speaker, Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba, a professor of Political Economy & Development Studies, Conflict Ology and Alternative Paradigms,
Department of Political Science & International Relations, University of Abuja, said the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant, followers cannot be mere consumers of good governance; they must be participants and co-creators.

He added that power Is a means to an end, not an end in itself. That power is a tool for, and an instrument of self glorification, Power, in Nigeria is a road/journey, not a destination.

Professor Abba said Post-election periods can provide opportunities for strengthening democratic institutions, such as electoral commissions, judiciary, and regulatory bodies. However, he said this also poses a challenge as it requires concerted efforts to ensure the independence, transparency, and efficiency of these institutions like Electoral Commission, Judiciary, Media and Citizens, thereby reinforcing the democratic process and upholding the rule of law.

He also said a change in government can create uncertainty in the business and investment sectors, potentially leading to economic challenges such as market fluctuations, decreased investor confidence, and policy paralysis, which can negatively impact on the overall economic stability of the country.

He explained that the Post-election periods often necessitate efforts to promote social cohesion and reconciliation, particularly in situations where the electoral process has exacerbated social divisions which may require initiatives to promote dialogue, understanding, and compromise among different factions within society.

Nigerian politicians have been called upon to give more priority to nation building than self centeredness.

The Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu made the called at the Nineth National Conference of the Department of History and International Studies held at the University Auditorium.

He urged politicians on to come together irrespective of ethnic and political affiliations to make Nigeria a better place to live.

The Conference is with the theme: “Power, Authority and Governance: Some Critical Challenges in the Post 2023 General Elections.

Professor Abu Kasim Adamu explained that while general elections are over and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed as the winner at the Supreme Court, there is the need for all political stakeholders to come together to finetune ways of moving the country forward.

The Vice Chancellor noted that with Nigeria facing a lot of challenges like general insecurity, poverty, food insecurity, infrastructural decay, education, health and other sectors that needed urgent attention, success will not be achieved without cooperation and contributions from all the relevant stakeholders.

In his welcome remarks the Head of Department of History and International Studies, Dr. Mamman Saba Abdulkadir highlighted the importance of the theme of the conference, saying Nigeria is passing through a challenging period since inception of the present democratic experience, 1999 to 2023 which requires the academia to take stock of milestone and challenges to chart out new ways.

He added that Nigeria is moving very close to a failed state scenario where the country leaders time and again neglect stewardship of public food in favor of zero sum political games and accumulation of personal and family wealth.

He also qouted the premier of Northern Region, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto who summed up the essence of government as “A government has no business of being a government if it is not built on an acceptable constitution that protect the rights, life and property of it citizens, guaranteed the rule of law and provides greater happiness among the greater numbers of the people”.

In his presentation the Keynote Speaker the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare x-rayed the 2023 elections as one of the most competitive presidential elections in the history of Nigeria, adding that power, authority and governance constitute the tripod upon which the destiny of nation rest.

He said that Nigeria faced serious challenges during and after the 2023 general elections, maintaining that the nineth conference of historians and social science scholars would explore the situation with the academic rigour.

Also in his presentation the Lead Speaker, Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba, a professor of Political Economy & Development Studies, Conflict Ology and Alternative Paradigms,
Department of Political Science & International Relations, University of Abuja, said the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant, followers cannot be mere consumers of good governance; they must be participants and co-creators.

He added that power Is a means to an end, not an end in itself. That power is a tool for, and an instrument of self glorification, Power, in Nigeria is a road/journey, not a destination.

Professor Abba said Post-election periods can provide opportunities for strengthening democratic institutions, such as electoral commissions, judiciary, and regulatory bodies. However, he said this also poses a challenge as it requires concerted efforts to ensure the independence, transparency, and efficiency of these institutions like Electoral Commission, Judiciary, Media and Citizens, thereby reinforcing the democratic process and upholding the rule of law.

He also said a change in government can create uncertainty in the business and investment sectors, potentially leading to economic challenges such as market fluctuations, decreased investor confidence, and policy paralysis, which can negatively impact on the overall economic stability of the country.

He explained that the Post-election periods often necessitate efforts to promote social cohesion and reconciliation, particularly in situations where the electoral process has exacerbated social divisions which may require initiatives to promote dialogue, understanding, and compromise among different factions within society.

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai has confirmed the promotions of fourteen to Professorial cadre.

The announcement for the confirmation was made at the 94th regular meeting of the Senate held in the Senate Chamber, Main Campus, Lapai.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu announced that the State Ministry of Tertiary Education had earlier ratify the promotions in the absence of Council yet to be put in place.

Those promoted to professorial seat are: Dr. Ango Nuhu Aliyu, Professor of Business Administration; Dr. Aidelokai Dennis Idonije, Public Administration;
Dr. John Jiya, Counselling Psychology; Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Mawoli, Business Administration; Dr. Kabir Mohammed Adamu, Biological Science.

Others new professors are, Dr. Bashir Danlami Sarkindaji, Business Administration; Dr. Musa Yahaya Dutsu, Arabic; Dr. Baba John, Micro biology; and Dr. Musa Mohammed, Chemistry respectively.

Those promoted to Readers (Associates Professors) are: Dr. Abdul-Hadi Adeniyi Salahudeen, Arabic; Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Letswa, Political Science; Dr. Abubakar Abdulkadir, Mathematics; Dr. Aliyu Alhaji Zakariyya, Science Education; and Dr. Kudu Dangana Geography.

Congratulating them, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu urged them to continue to work harder and use their new positions for the growth of the University.

He also extended a congratulatory message from the Visitor, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Right Honourable Umaru Muhammad Bago and the Honourable Commissioner , Tertiary Education urging them to be more dedicated to teaching and research.

It would be recalled that the University’s Appointment and Promotion Committee had at its 44th sitting recommended the promotion of the  academic staff.

The first batch of teams from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for accreditation of some academic programmes of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai has arrived.

In a welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Hassan Ibrahim, assured the teams of the Management’s maximum cooperation for a hitch-free exercise.

He said that the exercise was very important to the University and enjoined them to be objective in their assessment so as to ensure quality of all academic programmes of the Institution.

Responding, the Leader of the teams, Professor Mubaraq Sanni assured the Management of fair and objective assessments of all the programmes in order to improve the quality and standard of various academic programmes in the University.

He sought for the cooperation of the University to facilitate their assignment.

Programmes available for the accreditation exercise by the first batch are, MSc. Accounting and BSc. Arabic.

The Centre for Arts and Indigenous Studies (CAIS), Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai and its Director, Professor Sule Emmanuel Egya have won foreign grants for the University.

A letter signed by Professor Egya informing the University Management stated that while one of the grants is in monetary term worth $36,245, which is about N29 million, the other is fellowship.

He added that the amount is expected to fund a joint project by the Centre and Eloyi Foundation in Nasarawa State.

Professor Egya stated that the monetary grant is sponsored by Modern Endangered Archieve program of the University of California, Los Angeles to work on “Digitalizing and Curating Eloyi Cassette Recordings”.

For the Senior Research Fellowship which is won by the Director himself, Professor Sule Emmanuel Egya, it is sponsored by the College of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University Alliance, Flurd Region, Germany.

The Fellow is expected to stay in the University of Duisburg for six months to undertake research on, “Decolonial Ecology: African Literature, Indigenous Practices and Planetary Balance”.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu had since congratulated Professor Egya and said the two grants would definitely raise the University’s research profile on the global map.

He challenged other researchers in the University to buckle up for more wins.