CHANCELLOR APPEALS FOR SUSPENSION OF STRIKE, PROMISES FULL SUPPORT TO IBBUL

The Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Faruk Bahago has appealed for the suspension of ongoing industrial action by University Unions for the benefit of all, and promised to continue to give full support and co-operation to the growth and development of the Institution at any time.

The Chancellor made the appeal when members of the Management University led by the Vice Chancellor Professor Abu Kasim Adamu paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.

The Chancellor who is also the Emir of Minna appreciated the Management for the visit and expressed concern over the continued strike action.

He congratulated the Management for the achievements so far recorded in the University, especially for the full accreditation of some courses by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Dr. Bahago who expressed delight with the way the Management is piloting the affairs of the institution, also promised to contact and dialogue with major stakeholders to ensure the completion of the abandoned projects on the campus.

Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor Professor Abu Kasim Adamu said members of the University Management were in the palace to update His Royal Highness on the growth and development of the institution.

He thanked the Chancellor for his usual speedy intervention during the crises between the Management and the University Unions, adding that more of such royal interventions were needed for the smooth running of the institution.

The Vice Chancellor informed the Emir that the University was preparing for another admission exercise for which 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 admissions are likely to be combined, and the online screening and result verification will soon commence.

Professor Adamu said if all things being equal, the Management is considering November this year for the 4th convocation ceremony to take place.

He said the Chancellor’s assistance was needed in calling on the major stakeholders to rally round the institution for more support.

VICE CHANCELLOR FLAGS OFF NIRSAL FACILITATED ENTREPRENEUR TRAINING

The Vice Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu has flagged off entrepreneur training at the University’s Entrepreneurial Development Institute at the main campus, Lapai.

The Vice Chancellor who thanked the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) for granting the University the permission to train prospective entrepreneurs, equally congratulated the participants for being pioneer trainees.

He advised them to take the training serious in order to manage their businesses very well and to be able to pay back their loans comfortably to pave way for other beneficiaries.

Professor Adamu appreciated the Federal Government for initiating the programme which, according to him, will reduce the level of unemployment, insecurity and other social vices among the youths.

He assured the University’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED), the Consultancy Services Unit and the trainers of the maximum support of the Management in the success of the programme.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Director, Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Sadeeq Gudugi traced the history of the Entrepreneur Development Institute to an application written to the Central Bank by predecessor, and supported by the University Management.

He disclosed that shortly after the portal was opened, about One Hundred and twenty prospective entrepreneurs indicated interest for the training, with only about thirty of them qualified to form the first batch.

The Director however assured other applicants that the training is a continuous one and would be part of it, having fulfilled the conditions for qualification.

Dr Gudugi stressed that the training which covers basic management techniques, will last for five days after which the certificate issued can be used to access loan from the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Micro finance Bank.

Giving a closing remarks, the Director, Consultancy Services Unit, Malam Suleiman Liman that led the Vice Chancellor and other members of the University Management team for honouring the invitation to grave the event.

He disclosed that similar packages from the Federal Government aimed at improving the lives of the people are being gathered to be package for the the University beneficiaries.

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc.) is a US$500million Non-Bank Financial Institution wholly-owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) created to Redefine, Dimension, Measure, Re-Price and Share agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria.

IBBUL FIFTH COUNCIL HOLDS INAUGURAL MEETING

The fifth Council of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai has held its inaugural meeting.

Addressing members at the University’s Council Chamber, the Chairman, Major General Idris Garba (rtd) welcomed them to the forty-seventh meeting of the Council and congratulated them on their appointments by His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, the Visitor to the University and Governor of Niger State.

He requested members to make use of their diverse experiences in making meaningful contributions towards the upliftment of the University.

General Garba, who is also the Pro- Chancellor said he observed that a solid foundation has so far been laid for the present Council to build on.

The Wazirin Lapai expressed confidence in the Management team and prayed God to continue to make the University grow from strength to strength.

Briefing the new council on the development in the University since the last Council meeting held in February this year, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu enumerated Academic and Research activities, Institutional collaborations, NEEDS Assessment and TETfund interventions as part of areas where the Management made some strides.

Others, according to him, are Funding, Accreditation matters, Administrative issues and Student/Student support services.

Professor Adamu, on behalf of the Management welcomed the new members of the Governing Council to the University and wished them a successful service to the University.

The Vice Chancellor also paid tribute to members of the Fourth Council for their sacrifices and immeasurable support to the University, adding that posterity would surely judge them right for such wonderful contributions.

FIRST BATCH OF NUC RESOURCE VERIFICATION EXERCISE ENDS WITH COMMENDATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The resource verification exercise for the assessment of some postgraduate and undergraduate programmes at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai by teams from the National Universities Commission in line with its Basic Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) has been concluded successfully with commendations and some suggestions that would take the Institution to enviable heights.

Addressing the Management during the exit briefing session by respective Leaders of the teams that assessed Msc, Phd and Undergraduate programmes in the University, Professor Hammawa Mohammed Baba, Computer Science; Professor John Mawak, Microbiology; Professor Joseph Amada, Geology; Professor Abubakar Musa, Mathematics; and Professor Yushau Suleiman Imam for Undergraduate Islamic Studies respectively lauded the efforts of the University Management for providing state-of-the-art facilities in the Institution to facilitate teaching, research and learning activities.

The Team Leaders also expressed satisfaction with the serene environment and the level of human capital development programme for post graduate education in the University; adding that the spirit of oneness among staff was highly commendable.

They, however, encouraged the Management to critically consider the suggestions they made, which when implemented would make the University stand at very competitive position with its peers globally.

Some of the recommendations made included recruitment of additional permanent academic and technical staff, infrastructure development in terms of expansion of lecture theatres, laboratories and offices to enable admission of larger numbers of students, among others.

The Team Leaders expressed deep appreciation for the kind reception accorded them through out the exercise.

Also speaking, National Universities Commission (NUC) representative, Hadiza Ramallan appealed to the University Management to take the recommendations very seriously, and advised on the use of internal Quality Assurance mechanisms to ensure efficiency of its operations.

She appreciated the commitment of IBBUL staff to the exercise and thanked the Management for the cooperation and support accorded them throughout the period of the exercise.

In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu thanked the teams for being fair and objective in their assessments.

He said the exercise was a good opportunity for the University to upscale its facilities in line with BMAS of NUC, in order to produce graduates that could favourably compete with their colleagues everywhere around the world.

Professor Adamu assured that the Management would look into recommendations made by each team with a view to implementing them, adding that all deficiencies would be rectified by making sure that quality and standards were not compromised.

The teams were earlier received by the Vice Chancellor, who assured them of the Management’s maximum cooperation during the exercise.