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It was torrents of encomiums at a send off organised by the Alumni Association of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai for the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare.

Speaking at the event which was organised in conjunction with the University’s Students Union Government(SUG) and the National Association of Niger State Students(NANISS), the Council Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Kudu Santuraki, represented by Engr. Inuwa Musa Kuta, described Professor Maiturare as a leader who motivates others to get what he wanted.

He said being a good leader, the outgoing Vice Chancellor took his time to groom those behind him for good leadership, adding that where such type of people were lacking, moulding successors becomes illusive.

In his welcome address, the Alumni President, Comrade Umar Saba Baba said the event was organised to celebrate the life and successful tenure of the amiable gentleman in person of Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare.

He pointed out that the outgoing Vice Chancellor’s achievements over the past five years were breath taking, saying that he was leaving a very big shoes behind to be stepped into by his successor.

Comrade Saba Baba said the efforts of Professor Maiturare has made the University one of the most sought after in terms of teaching and learning.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Mohammad Yakubu Auna commended the alumni for organising the event, saying the outgoing Vice Chancellor made the association very active in the University.

Professor Auna who is the Provost of the State College of Education, Minna urged the leadership of the Alumni Association to write its name in gold by doing its best for the University.

The Provost prayed for Professor Maiturare to continue to maintain his humility and hard work, and do his best wherever he went.

In their separate remarks, the Presidents of the Students Union Government(SUG), Comrade Idris Baba Alhaji, and the National Association of Niger State Students(NANISS), Comrade Sallah Mohammed Abdullahi described Professor Maiturare as a leader to be trusted, and thanked him for being there for them when they needed him.

Presenting a paper, titled, “Mutual Benefit Between Tertiary Institutions and their Host Communities:A Case of IBB University, Lapai”, the Special Guest of Honour, Engr. Abdullah Isah Jankara observed that the presence of the University in Lapai town has created a lot of advantages for the community.

He described the outgoing Vice Chancellor as an agent of positive change in the state, stressing that he, it was who, triggered the seach for oil in the Bida basin, and that as a warrior, he came, saw and conquered.

Also in his paper, titled, “Sustainable Development: A Giant Strides of Maiturare”, the Deputy Registrar of Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, Malam Saidu Mahmud Kpako said IBB University has witnessed a lot of sustainable developments under the leadership of Professor Maiturare who he described as a champion of development.

He maintained that the University was lucky to have the outgoing Vice Chancellor who laid the foundation for a sustainable development that is acceptable to all, stressing further that he sustained what he met and added more.

Responding, the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare expressed delight for the show of love by the associations in the University.

He went down memory lane that at his assumption of office five years ago, he did promised to work with an open mind in order to achieve a lot, adding that a lot still needed to be done to take the institution to the promised land.

He enjoined the associations to accord his successor the co-operation and support he enjoyed during his tenure.

In a vote of thanks, the Dean of Students, Dr. Is’aq Ma’ali thanked the Alumni Association for organising the event to honour the outgoing Vice Chancellor who he described as a gold getter.

He noted the Professor Maiturare would be remembered as an accomplished team leader who has impacted a lot on the lives of many.

Highlights of the occasion included presentation of poems and songs on the celebrant, and also certificates of credence and other gifts.

The Council of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai has approved the award of Honorary Doctorate Degree to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The award of Doctor of Humane Letters(LH.D), Honoris Causa, which will be presented to the National Leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) on Saturday, 14th December, at the 3rd combined convocation ceremony, is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to humanity and human welfare.

The award is the latest which brings to three the number of recipients during the convocation ceremony.

It would be recalled that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare had earlier this week announced similar honour on the late former Governor of Niger State and founder of the University, Engr. Abdulkhadir Abdullahi Kure and Honourable Justice Maria Sanda Zukogi.

Professor Maiturare had said that the posthumous award for late Kure was Doctor of Science (D.Sc) which is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of IBB University, public service and the engineering profession.

Justice Maria Zukogi will, on the other hand, be honoured with a Doctor of Laws (LL.D), honoris causa, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the administration of justice and exemplary public service.

The Visitor and Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has commended the Management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University for exposing its students to global acceptable entrepreneurial skills such as agribusiness, fashion, cosmetics, solar energy, information communication technology, cashew and Shea processing, and many more.

He gave the commendation while delivering his address at the 3rd Combined Convocation Ceremony of the University held at the Convocation Arena of the University.

The Visitor noted that the exposure of the students to entrepreneurial skills was a clear demonstration of the Management’s commitment to ensuring that the University was not only providing education for the sake of acquiring certificates, but also for the provision of knowledge and skills which would empower youths to revolutionalise the nation’s economy.

Governor Bello urged the Management of the university to continue to train students that would be of acceptable global standards in entrepreneurship skills and ensure that the graduates of the institution were candidates that would be ready for the increasingly competitive labour market, and more importantly, as job creators.

“You must rise to the challenge of meeting the manpower requirement of both the public and private sectors in the State; that is the strategic option in the 21st century”, the Visitor maintained.

The Governor also charged the Management of the University to continue to play a leading role in the country’s agricultural transformation through specialized researches that would improve the practices for increased value-chain benefits in the sector.

According to him, “Our government would in spite of the difficult economic realities, continue to commit resources to the provision of adequate manpower, capacity enhancement, the motivation of teaching and non-teaching staff in all our institutions of higher learning”.

He assured the University of his administration’s commitment to creating favourable business and investment climate that would trigger massive inflow of domestic and foreign investment in the agricultural sector of the state through private sector participation, supporting the small farmers with necessary incentives and to make agribusiness attractive to the youths.

“IBB University must, as a matter of expediency, begin to look inwards to expand its collaborations with the Federal and State Ministry of agriculture to export the expertise of the gown to the town towards modernizing our agricultural sector”, the Governor added.

He appreciated all agencies and individuals that were partnering with the government in taking this University to greater heights.

Governor Bello congratulated the students for completing their courses as well as those awarded with honorary degrees urging them to remain good ambassadors of the institution.

The Visitor appreciated Professor Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor for bringing his wealth of experience to bear within the period of his leadership in the University, which he said has brought tremendous transformation to the institution.

“On behalf of the Government of Niger State, I say thank you and wish you well in your future endeavours”, the Visitor said.

Giving his remarks at the occasion, the Chancellor and Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umaru Farouk Bahago appreciated the support and cooperation the University was receiving from the Niger State Government and commended the University Management for initiating impactful researches; urging to do more.

He expressed appreciation for the spirit of love demonstrated by special guests and stakeholders of the University and stressed the need for more funding to the University.

Also delivering his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University, Dr. Mohammed Kudu Santuraki reiterated the determination of the Council to ensure that IBB University continue leap to become member of comity of best Universities in the world.

While appreciating the support of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s led administration to the University, he also appealed for increased funding to enable the University surpass it’s feats.

Dr Santuraki congratulated the graduating students and awardees; appealing for more support from stakeholders of the University.

Earlier, in his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare disclosed that 23 graduands made first class, 700 had second class upper, 1,999 graduated with second class lower while 470 were in 3rd class category even as 29 graduated with a pass.

He said the overall best graduating students for 2017/2018 session is Yansahwu Adio of French department with a CGPA of 4.77 and Maryam Gomina of Physics department is overall best graduating students for 2018/2019 session with a CGPA of 4.73.

For the Postgraduate School, Professor Maiturare disclosed that 91 graduated from the school with 58 bagging masters’ degrees and 33 postgraduate diplomas.

“The females are excelling, recalled that the overall best graduating student for the last convocation was Sa’adat Usman of Biochemistry with a CGPA of 4.86. We are very proud to be associated with your success,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor solicited for an increase in subvention given to the institution even though he appreciated the prompt and timely release of the fund to the institution.

Highlights of the convocation included the awards of honorary degrees to three distinguished Nigerians that have contributed outstandingly to humanity and re-launch of the University’s endowment fund, which was anchor by the Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar who was represented by Engr. Inuwa Musa Kuta.

Those honoured during the occasion were Late Governor Abdulkhadir Abdullahi Kure who was founder of the University and was posthumously awarded a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) which was received by his wife, Senator Zaynab Kure, while Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conferred with Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa), and Justice Maria Sanda Zukogi was conferred with Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa).

The occasion also featured the investiture of Professor Nuhu George Obaje as NNPC endowed Professorial Chair in Basinal Studies, which was the first of its kind in the country.

Responding on behalf of other awardees, the National Leader of the ruling party in the country, the All Progressive Congress (APC) who was former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu thanked the authorities of IBB University for bestowing on them great honour and assured that the gesture by the Institution would spur them to contribute more to humanity.

Making his vote of thanks at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Abubakar Baba Aliyu appreciated all and sundry, particularly creme of dignitaries that graced the occasion and congratulated all the graduands for the successful completion of their academic programmes.

A convocation lecture had earlier been delivered on the eve of the ceremony in the University Auditorium by a reverred scholar of Political Science, Professor Nuhu Yaqub of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto on “Globalization and it’s Challenges to the Management, Survival, and Relevance of Nigerian University Education System.”

The Don brought to the fore myriads of teething challenges bedeviling the desired growth and development of Ivory Towers in the country and advocated for urgent and pragmatic measures to check the ugly situation, if the Nigerian’s Universities are to be reckoned among the high ranking institutions of the world.

Some completed projects were earlier commissioned by the State Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr Abubakar Baba Aliyu.

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.