…. Advocates more commitment

The Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, has said that a complete slowdown of exploration in the frontier inland basins is a set back to the quest to book additional reserves for Nigeria.

He made the assertion at the occasion of 2024 Earth Week with the theme, “Refresh and Restore the Earth: Growing a Greener Tomorrow “, organized by the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS)/Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), IBB University Students Chapter.

Professor Adamu therefore advocated for more commitment through an expedited action in the commencement of drilling in the Bida Basin, noting that since seismic data and interpretation as well as other exploration research results showed positive potential for oil and gas in the basin, more a needed to be done by the critical stakeholders.

The Vice Chancellor who spoke as the Special Guest of Honour, through the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Hassan Ibrahim, commended the Department of Geology for contributing immensely in making the University what it is today and also congratulated the students, describing the event as a great achievement.

He urged the students to embrace artificial intelligence in their academic pursuit and remain digital at all times.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Chair Professor and Head of Department of Geology and Mining, Professor Nuhu George Obaje said the Department and other Geologists have contributed significantly to frontier inland basins hydrocarbon exploration, especially to the successes achieved in the Kolmani River discoveries in the Gongola Basin of the Upper Benue Trough.

He also disclosed that the ongoing drilling program of Ebenyi-A well in Obi area of Nasarawa State is another achievement recorded by NNPC and inland basin researchers pointing out that lots of efforts are ongoing to elucidate the hydrocarbon resources in the Bida and Sokoto Basins with the hope that drilling commences soonest.

Professor Obaje maintained that the country needed more oil and gas in the face of the current high fuel prices and non-operational refineries coupled with unemployment and underemployment of graduates.

The Chair Professor paid tribute to the late Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, whom he described as a pillar in the development of IBB University, and for endowing the NNPC Professorial Chair in Basinal Studies to the institution which has brought with it the construction of the perimeter fencing of the University and the building of the Professorial Chair Office named after him.

The Head of Department requested the University Management to grant the Department of Geology and Mining a befitting departmental building that could reflect the modest achievements of the University over the years.

The Guest Lecturer, Mr. Makoji Aduku, an Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Pillar Oil Limited whose paper centered on entrepreneurship, described a Geologist as the only person who knows the earth, adding that reading Geology creates wealth, especially through entrepreneurship.

He decried the pains in being an entrepreneur and said with more perseverance success is achievable.

Mr Aduku lamented that cement production in Nigeria is yet to meet up with demands and called for more geological exploration of limestone and marble that would bring about more production.

Speaking in an opening remark, the IBB University, Lapai student chapter President of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society/ Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NMGS/NAPE), Abdullahi Jibrin described Geoscientists as experts endowed with the knowledge and capacity to explore earth’s resources for mankind in agriculture, manufacturing, construction and the rest.

He appreciated the Visitor of the University and Governor of Niger State, Honorable Umaru Mohammed Bago for his green economy initiative and thanked the University Management for creating the enabling environment for the growth of students to become seasoned geoscientists.

The opening ceremony had interactive sessions where speakers called for concerted effort to encourage explorations by geologists and miners through legitimate means.

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of gift to the Basinal Chair Professor by the Student Union Government

 

Fresh undergraduate students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, from the Faculties of Management and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Education, and the College of Health Sciences, have been encouraged to engage in entrepreneurship skills acquisition to become business owners.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, represented by the Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Aliyu Bello, gave the advice while inaugurating a two-day entrepreneurial orientation workshop organized by the Malam Ibrahim Aliyu Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED) at the University auditorium.

Professor Adamu emphasized the importance of leveraging on entrepreneurship skills acquired during university education to explore various self-employment opportunities.

He explained that the goal of the entrepreneurship course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become self-employed and potential employers.

The Vice Chancellor highlighted that the workshop aims to prepare students for life after university by instilling an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to start and develop their own businesses instead of remaining jobless after graduation.

In his welcome address, the Director of the Malam Ibrahim Aliyu Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED), Professor Mohammed Abubakar Mawoli congratulated the 100-level students on their participation and noted the National Universities Commission (NUC)’s directive in its new curriculum, mandates entrepreneurship skills development for all O’level students.

In their seprate Presention, the former Director of the Center Professor Abubakar Sadiq Gudugi, Hajiya Fatima Zahra, a lecturer from the Department of Accounting; Zainab Saidu, an alumni from the Department of Computer Science and a successful entrepreneur; and Hassan Mustapha, an alumni and shoe entrepreneur, shared their success stories.

They underscored the importance of acquiring the necessary skills to become successful entrepreneurs, citing the common pitfalls of businesses started without proper knowledge.

The speakers advised aspiring entrepreneurs to develop a passion for their chosen ventures, which helps in overcoming initial challenges and sourcing startup capital. They stressed that businesses driven by genuine interest are more likely to succeed than those started solely by imitating others.

In his closing remarks, the University Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki, represented by the Establishment Secretary, Mr. Sunday Gana, congratulated the newly admitted students on their admission and praised the CIED for organizing the impactful workshop.

He acknowledged the Vice Chancellor and resource persons for their valuable contributions and thanked the Entrepreneurship Centre staff for their relentless support.

To further strengthen and promote government’s efforts on food security, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai and Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria are to collaborate on the promotion of indigenous food in Nigeria.

This was made known when a delegation from the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria visited the University on resource inspection of facilities that will actualize the development.

Welcoming the delegation, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Hassan Ibrahim affirmed that the collaboration would go along way to strengthen research between the University and the Council.

He said as an Institution with global research winners, and which is deeply engaged in researches, IBB University, Lapai is ready for the collaboration.

The Vice Chancellor assured the delegation that the Institution has qualified researchers that could produce the manpower for indigenous food in the country.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Professor Bello Zaki Abubakar, who represented the Executive Secretary, Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubu, disclosed that the Council was around to see to the possibility of a collaboration with the University on indigenous food, hence the resource verification exercise.

He said it was necessary to see facilities in the University, especially manpower and other Agricultural inputs before going into the agreement.

He assured that a memorandum of Understanding would be signed immediately the Council was satisfied with the readiness of the University.

Researchers in the University who spoke on the development were optimistic that the end result would be beneficial to all.

They observed that the State is blessed with a lot of land for Agricultural activities, adding that enough indigenous food would be grown to feed the nation.

In closing remarks, the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki noted that the research collaboration would surely help out an end to search for indigenous food, especially for travellers.

He wished the delegation a happy and successful stay on the campus.

Places visited on campus by the delegation are, Directorate of Research and Development (R&D), Centre for Applied Sciences and Technology Research (CASTER), and Departments in the Faculty of Agriculture.

Others are Pilot Plant Facilities and the University Farms.

The Vice-Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu has approved the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Baji as the new Director, Institute of Continuing Education and e-learning (ICEeL).

Dr. Baji is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education and Arts. Until his new appointment, Dr. Ibrahim Baji was a Coordinator in the Institute. He was also the Head of Department, Counselling Psychology and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts.

Dr. Baji was appointed to fill in the vacant position created as a result of sudden demise of Professor Nuhu Ango Aliyu. In a similar development, Dr. Suleiman Suleiman Chado has been appointed as the new Head, Department of Counselling Psychology. Dr. Chado was one time the Department’s Examination Officer.

All appointments are with immediate effect.

The Vice-Chancellor has, however, congratulated the appointees and wished them a successful tenure in their new positions.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the commencement of Doctor of Pharmacy and LL.B Law programmes with effect from 2024/2025 academic session.

A letter of approval signed by the Commission’s Acting Director of Academic Planning, Abubakar M. Gerei and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu said the Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Chris Maiyaki, considered and approved the establishment of a full mode of the programmes at undergraduate level with effect from 2024/2025 academic session following the visit of Resource Verification panels to the Institution early this year.

The letter added that the programmes which are Doctor of Pharmacy and LL.B Law do not include the part-time mode of delivery, until requested from the commission.

The letter read in part, ” the programme shall bear only the approved titles and nomenclatures and any change will require the approval of the Commission.”

It further enjoined the University to provide adequate human and material resources for the development and growth of the approved programmes.

Commenting on the new development, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu appreciated the Commission for the approval and assured that everything humanly possible would be done to adhere to the NUC guidelines as stipulated.

He thanked His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State and Visitor to the University, Honorable Umaru Mohammed Bago for financial support to the Institution at all times.

Professor Adamu also appreciated the Ministries of Tertiary Education, Finance and that of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs for always opening the window of success for the University.

He enjoined staff and students to remain resolute in the development of the University for the glory of the State.

It would be recalled that National Universities Commission (NUC) Resource Verification panel visited the University on Friday, 8th March, this year for the assignment.

A professor of Economics and Political History in the Department of History and International Studies, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Salahu Mohammed Lawal has identified history as mirror of every developed society, for which the more you see the more you understand.

Professor Salahu Lawal made this known during the University’s Twenty Second Inaugural Lecture series, with the topic “History as Mirror of the Society: the more you look the more you see”, held in the University Auditorium, Lapai

He explained that pervasiveness of crisis, violence and instability in our society emanate from people who lacked knowledge of history or display negligence about history, and who don’t consider what should be of the society in the neatest future.

Professor Salahu Lawal further noted that absence of historical consciousness bred statesmen without a sense of history; statesmen who only think of what they could acquire at the moment irrespective of how it may be achieved without recourse to merit to serve as models for younger generations.

This, he said resulted to deep corruption in society which has gone beyond stealing public funds and subverting justice.

He noted further that those people forget individual and values that sustained the society since inception.

He then admonished that a nation without a sense of history and its core values suffer superficially with a deep of sense of continuity and perception of success.

He concluded his lectures that Nigeria has negligence of history by citizens with little knowledge of their history as individuals and as members of their immediate community, and the nation at large.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, noted that the twenty second Inaugural Lecture topic came at a time of a lot of clarion call are being made on history as a subject of study to be brought back to educational curriculum once again.

He added that children of nowadays needed to know the history of yesterday, today and be able to foresee tomorrow for the unity growth and development of our nation.

Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Conferences and Seminars, Professor Victor Are Kolawole explained that the lecture underscored the importance of history as academic discipline, including it contributions to national development.

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

The Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Dantani Wushishi was among dignitaries that graced the occasion.

A team of Researchers at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai lead by Professor Musa Dickson Achimugu have produced a prototype of a mosquito repellent for pregnant women, children called PROTEKTOS during at a ten day workshop on Research for impact (R4i) at Innovate Hub Abuja.

The workshop which was organized by TETFund was aimed at creating a mind-shift for academics on how to translate ideas into research and projects, into prototypes and products for marketing.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Hassan Ibrahim while declaring the one day workshop with the theme, “Innovative Problem-Based Research With Translational Impact: A Paradigm Shift”, organized by the University ‘s Center for Research and Development, applauded the Team of researchers for translating research projects into prototypes for commercialization and also for a step down of the knowledge acquired during the R4i workshop.

Professor Adamu noted that the aim of any research work is to proffer solution to the research problem and translating the work into prototypes for commercialization which will in turn add value to the researchers and the institution as a form of generating Revenue, thereby encouraging the University researchers to ensure that after conducting research, it should not only remain on publication shelves, but also to be translated into prototypes for commercial purposes.

He maintained that institutions are built on three cardinal points of Teaching, Research and Community development and IBB University is known for winning research grants with qualitative and qualified teachers for effective teaching and learning.

Speaking, the Coordinating Director of Research and Development, Professor Nuhu Obage, represent by his Deputy, Dr. Hussaini Majiya applauded the young researchers for doing the University proud.

He also appreciated the University Management for the support it always gives the Directorate, which has been encouraging research.

Professor Obaje who is also the NNPC Basinal Chair called on the State government to continue to give the needed support to and patronage to academic research.

In their separate presentations, the Project Lead, Professor Musa Dickson Achimugu, Dr. Aisha Sani Rabiu, Dr. Yakubu Azeh, Dr. Yusuf Dauda Jikantoro and Dr. Yunusa Audu, affirmed that the primary aim of the R4i is to inspire participants to embrace a new era of innovative research and development in Nigeria, Initiative aims to usher in a new era of societal development by addressing pressing challenges, the remarkable initiative, led by TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, harnesses the combined power of academic ingenuity and industry expertise, further reinforcing the Triple Helix Synergy among Government, Academia, and Industry.

The objective of the one day workshop on Innovative Problem-Based Research With Translational Impact: a Paradigm Shift, is to improve research and development capabilities of Nigerian academics, support their ideas and monitor their effort in translational research, to create a platform for Nigerian academics, researchers, innovators and inventors to become patent owners and venture and to create a mind-shift for academics on how to translate ideas into research and projects, into prototypes and products for marketing.

The researchers recommended that institution should establish research Incubation Center, cultivate the culture of innovation and commercialization among students and lecturers and also create a supportive ecosystem that recognizes and rewards innovation, celebrates risk-taking, and provides mentorship.

They also recommended that institutions should encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle complex societal problems effectively, strengthen technology transfer and streamline the patenting process, provide support services to assist academics, researchers, innovators, and inventors in securing patents for their intellectual property.

In his closing remarks remarks the Deputy Director Center for Research and Development, Dr Hussaini Majiya appreciated the University Management for organizing a scale down workshop for the University researchers and students.

He charged the participants to put in use the knowledge acquired from the workshop.

Highlights of the workshop were paper presentations, projecting the mosquito repellent prototype and questions and answer session.