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EDUCATION REMAINS TOOL FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Varsity Don

Education has been described as a tool for economic and social development of the country.

A Professor of Business Administration and Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development stated this at the 4th Combined Convocation Lecture of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai with the topic “Building Bridge between Community Elites,Youth,University and challenges for development in the 21st Century” held at the University’s Auditorium.

Professor Sheikh who was the Convocation Lecturer stressed that there was no alternative to education, affirming that except for those who misconceived the concept of education and the miracle education does as an agent of change in man’s life and of the community.

He added that it is an opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness and high level of presumed correlation between political stability, access to education and economic development amidst coordinated confusion.

He lamented that new technologies are profoundly affecting teaching and learning, creating new opportunities and new competitors in the world of distributed learning, affirming that there is need to address challenges of the root cause of the issues rather than merely treating the symptoms.

“What we lack is the readiness to acknowledge our limitations and to act with determination to address them on our own, to change the trajectory of our community we must reconstruct through empowerment and community renewal”, he said

According to him, a mind not filled with knowledge is a mind filled with illiteracy, noting that it is imperative for youth to wake up from their slumber and pursue knowledge in order to become more responsible and acceptable to the communities and useful to the country whose future lies in their hands.

He called on youth to be law abiding and shun criminals activities such as drug abuse, stealing, fraud as well as all other forms of slanderous life that are capable of retarding the progress of the country and smear its image in the international community.

Earlier in his Opening Remarks,the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council Major General Idris Garba(RTD) explained that the Convocation Lecture is an opportunity to discuss and learn on topical issues that borders on university education.

The Pro-Chancellor, represented by the Vice Chairman of the Council Professor Bashir Nuhu Tachi appreciated the Lecturer and Chairman of the occasion, the Deputy Governor for the love they have for IBBUL as well as all that came to see the development of the University.

On his part the Chairman of the Occasion and the Deputy Governor of Niger State Alhaji Muhammad Ahmed Ketso buttressed that with clearly stated responsibilities for each of the stakeholders there can be a cordial relationship between the elite, youth and university community which in turn will lead to mutual benefit especially in terms of socio-economic development of the society at large.

He said the government of Niger State under the leadership of the Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello believes that the University being the only state own university deserves to compete globally not just internationally.

The Deputy Governor appreciated the Management of the University for having sustained excellent teaching and learning in the past seventeen years since the establishment of the University.

The Vice Chancellor Professor Abu Kasim Adamu said the 21st century is all about skill acquisition in addition to certificate stressing that the skills acquired will be a bridge between and the youth and prosperity.

Professor Abu Kasim urged the students and lecturers to be able to guide them properly in their choice of careers, noting that some of them may not have the potential in the areas they are looking for properly their own potentials is in the other side affirming that if they are properly guided they can excel than what they are.