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As every successive government in Nigeria continues to evolve strategic programmes that could eradicate poverty, a technocrat and successful business magnet, Chairman, Urban Shelter Limited, Malam Ibrahim Aliyu has asserted that, until frontal efforts are made by stakeholders at all levels of government to fight corruption to its knees and ensure that the nation’s population growth is effectively controlled, all measures aimed at getting out of poverty woods would end in futility.

He made this assertion while speaking as the distinguished Lecturer at the 3rd Public Lecture of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, on the topic: “Developing the Economy – Eradicating Poverty”, held at the Auditorium of main campus.

The Lecturer who was Secretary to State Government of Niger State during second republic and Chairman, Project Implementation Committee during General Abdulsalami Abubakar administration, posited that a growth rate of two percent in the economy and a population growth rate of three percent or more could only means increasing poverty in the country.

Malam Aliyu stressed that economic palliatives were not unhelpful, which most of the poverty programmes were intended for; adding that except basic structural variables that could accelerate economic growth and development were properly addressed, all efforts on poverty alleviation would be in aberration.

The Lecturer maintained that poverty is a cancer that was already translating into hunger and malnutrition in certain areas of the country, emphasising that it must be urgently checked to avert looming revolution.

The Philanthropist suggested that there was the need for equitable distribution of nation’s wealth and proper implementation of government policies and programmes, creating an open competitive economy as well as ensuring population control and family planning in order to reduce poverty to the barest minimum.

He recounted various economic dynamics that played out since colonial period to date and some measures taken by successive governments and stressed the need for full application of the laws and regulations in distribution of government resources.

According to the the Lecturer, “our economy must grow and must develop. We must eradicate poverty from our society. We have a mountain of work to do.”

In his address at the occasion, the Visitor to the University and Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso applauded the Lecturer; saying that the presentation was quite apt in view of current economic situation in the country.
He said that the lecture was able to outline a number of potent economic measures that could help in addressing the scourge of poverty in the country.

Alhaji Bello stated that lessons learnt from the presentation would be understudied by his administration with a view to identifying recommendations that could be adopted for the benefit of the State in general.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Mohammed K. Santuraki who was the Chairman of the Occasion, disclosed that there was no other time than now for governments at all levels in the country to put hands in glove for valid solutions to the problem of poverty that was fast destroying the entire nation.

He assured that the Council and Management was determined to do everything possible towards making the University champion intellectual discussions that would assist in the development of Niger State and the country in general.

Dr. Santuraki lauded the Niger State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello for according the University full support, and expressed appreciation to the guest lecturer for honouring the University and intervening to complete an important project in the Institution.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare pointed out that the University chose the topic for discussion because it was in line with the policy thrust of the current administration at both State and National levels.

According to him,” poverty has taken a centre stage on the Nigerian landscape that it has become a centrifugal force driving down all other indices of human development,” stressing that, “the irony is that the world now lives in the most prosperous time in human history.”

Professor Maiturare disclosed that beyond intellectual engagements of Professors in the University on various national Issues, the Management also believed that there are other eminent personalities out there who have made significant achievements in their endeavours whose wealth of knowledge, experience and intellectual wealth, the University could leverage on to enrich its academic discourse.

The Vice-Chancellor said efforts would be made to further expound on solutions that would be brought to fore by the lecturer to help in addressing the pressing national challenges.

He stated that the University needed support and encouragement from well meaning individuals within the State and beyond to thrive.

Professor Maiturare thanked the Guest Lecturer for offering to complete the Department of Economics Complex which is one of the foundation projects in the University that has remained uncompleted.

The Vice-Chancellor also expressed satisfaction with the level of support and cooperation being received from the Niger State Government and called for more.

The event attracted a number of personalities including the former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu who spoke on changing the narrative of poverty level in the country.

The Registrar of the Institution, Alhaji Musa Ango Abdullahi, in his vote of thanks, appreciated the Visitor, the Distinguished Lecturer, the Chancellor and other dignitaries that graced the occasion.

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of souvenir to the Guest Lecturer in appreciation of his honour to the University.

In its bid to contribute to the intellectual discourse on moral decadence in Nigeria, the Department of Sociology of the School of Preliminary Studies, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, New Bussa has organised a debate on the topic, “The Child, not the Parent is to blame for Waywardness”.

The debate which featured two groups of students who competed vehemently for and against the motion ended with the supporting team led by Abas Rabi, Olurin Elizabeth and Ayuba Mirabel emerging victorious with a total score of 72.3% against the opposing team led by Mohammed Abdulkarim, with Ahmed Mubarak Shehu and Abubakar Idris with scored a total of 69%.

In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Center, Dr. Yusuf Dauda Jikantoro thanked the organiser of the debate, Mal. Anas Abubakar Dan’Asabe for the effort, adding that the centre was willing to support staff and students in events aimed at boosting their intellectual capacities.

He pointed out that many other events are lined up, with the  debate series being the first. He thanked members of staff, the debaters and other students who turned out en-masse to honour invitations.

Students of Faculty of Agriculture, Departments of Mass Communication and Physics who are scheduled to commence their SIWES after the Second Semester Examinations have undergone some orientation conducted by staff of Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Addressing the students, the Fund’s Head of Training, Minna Area Office, Mr. Joel Samuel Aruwa said that the essence of the orientation was to sensitise them on dos and dont’s during the SIWES period.

According to the Head of Training, the purpose of SIWES is also to expose students to practical experience of what they are taught in the school.

He advised them to be punctual, dedicated and be inquisitive during the training and adhere strictly to the rules of the organization.

In his remarks, the University Director of SIWES, Dr. Abubakar S. I. Gudugi, advised the students to be good ambassadors of the University and dedicate their time and energy to the training.

He urged them to see the training as an opportunity to begin to prepare for a brighter future and wished them a successful industrial training.

The Vice-Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare has disclosed that every necessary arrangements would be made towards ensuring that the Institution becomes an active member of the International Union of Universities (IUU) within a shortest possible time.

He made this known while receiving in audience the President of International Union of Universities, Professor (Dr.) Mohammed Alaghbani in the Management Committee Room of the University.

Professor Maiturare assured that concerted efforts would be made in no distant time to formalise the process of the University becoming a recognised participant of activities of IUU.

The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the visit by the President of IUU and expressed support to ideals of the global Union of Universities.

Speaking earlier, the President of International Union of Universities, Professor (Dr.) Mohammed Alaghbani who led a team of the Union on courtesy visit to the Management said that the essence of the visit was to initiate the process of collaborating with IBB University, Lapai in order to encourage the Institution in becoming a member of the Union of International Universities.

He stated that there were a number of opportunities for member Universities of the Union; pointing out that no Nigerian University has registered for membership.

Professor Alaghbani enjoined the Management of the University to join the league in order for the Institution to benefit from a wide range of opportunities.

Highlight of the visit was the decoration of the Vice-Chancellor with the seal of International Union of Universities and presentation of the University plaque and souvenir to the President of IUU.

The Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, was head of delegation of the NNPC Chair in Basinal Studies visit to the Research and Development Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Portharcourt on Wednesday 16th October 2019 on a collaboration visit. The delegation was received by the Group General Manager of the NNPC R&D, Engr Ben Norhile at his office at the Eleme EPCL Life Camp Complex in Portharcourt. Professor Maiturare stated that the visit was the first official outing of the NNPC Chair endowed on the University with the purpose to work out collaborative programs with the NNPC R&D Division. The Vice Chancellor enumerated high-impact projects of the University completed and ongoing in collaboration with several government agencies and the private sector stressing that the university has a policy of dedicated commitment to timely project delivery that impact on the society and the national economy. The GGM R&D congratulated the university for being the first university to win the prestigious NNPC Professorial Chair, the first of its kind to be endowed by the corporation. Engr Norhile expressed the readiness of the R&D Division to collaborate with the IBBU Chair for the benefit of the Nigerian oil and gas industry with particular emphasis on frontier basins exploration and increasing national reserve of oil and gas through harnessing of the potentials in the inland basins.

The NNPC Chair Professor, Nuhu Obaje, in his presentation elaborated on the drawn up chair projects for the five year tenure to include prospectivity evaluation of the Bida, Sokoto and Northern Anambra Basins through remapping of the basins to refine the stratigraphy as well as evaluation of potential source and reservoir lithologies, trapping mechanisms and the role of the sporadic volcanics in the petroleum system cycle. He stressed that sand fairway studies would also be carried out to as basis for tracking deep water reservoir packages. All studies according to him are to complement the larger studies being carried out by the Frontier Exploration Services Division of the NNPC. The Chair has its mandates and work programs strategically outlined in the contract agreement stipulated by the NNPC, according to him. He further informed the gathering that the Chair has outlined collaborations with other business units of the NNPC and international research institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. The meeting at the R&D office concluded with a tour of the laboratories in the division guided by the General Manager, Exploration and Production, Mr Adetola Babajide. The laboratories comprise E&P, Petroleum Engineering, Environmental, and Refining and Petrochemicals. On the Vice Chancellor’s team in addition to the Chair Professor were the Director of Academic Planning of the institution, Dr Aliyu Paiko and the Deputy Registrar, Council Office, Alhaji Babangida Jatau.

The Management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai has held an interactive meeting with relevant stakeholders in the University and Lapai community with a view to reviewing and strengthening security situation on the campuses of the Institution and host communities.

Addressing the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Abu-Kasim Adamu stressed the need for periodic review of the security situation both on the campuses of the University and host communities so as to evolve more pragmatic measures that would ensure more peaceful and condusive environment for academic activities.

He pointed out that the ban on all forms of social gathering such as partying within and outside the University was still in force; stressing that anyone caught by Operation Keep Lapai Safe Task-force beyond the approved time of 11:00p.m daily would be made to face the wrath of the law.

Professor Maiturare also enjoined the security operatives in Lapai town to ensure that the security situation is managed with every sense of professionalism and responsibility.

He urged the Security Task-force to educate their members on the need to always abide by rules of engagement during security operations, particularly when dealing with members of the University community.

In their separate contributions at the meeting, the University Chief Security Officer, Major Ndagi Tete Kudu and the representatives of Mayakin Lapai, Mallam Muhammad B. Muhammad, the Department of State Security Services, Mr. Doma Shehu, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mallam Ibrahim Danlami, respectively expressed their readiness to work together towards managing effectively, the emerging security challenges in Lapai and its environs.