By Farida Isa Ibrahim
Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, the Third Substantive Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, has urged graduands of the institution to deploy the knowledge and character they acquired for the socio-economic development of Nigeria, describing graduation as “the beginning of another phase in life.”
Speaking with Education Monitor Magazine on the sidelines of the Silver Jubilee Anniversary and Eighth Combined Convocation Ceremony, Professor Mohammed said the university expects its graduates to fit into the larger society as professionals who can transform the country.
“Graduation is the beginning of another phase in life. They have gone their way into the larger Nigerian society,” he said. “Our assumption is that they have acquired knowledge and character in Nasarawa State University. And we expect that they will deploy those values, those skills, the character they have also learnt so that they can fit into the Nigerian society.”
He added: “And then as professionals, contribute towards the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Because we believe that knowledge must be used to emancipate the people, to transform the country. And I believe that the knowledge they have acquired is a knowledge that can really put them in a better position to do that. We will be there tomorrow and our thoughts and prayers will always be with them, because their success is our success.”
On the university’s twenty fifth anniversary, Professor Mohammed described the milestone as momentous and worthy of celebration.
“Twenty five years in the history of the university is a momentous period and the celebration of the twenty fifth anniversary is quite an honour,” he said. “We appreciate Almighty God for all His grace, for sparing our lives, for the progress that the university has attained. And we have every cause to celebrate.”
He noted that Nasarawa State University, Keffi has recorded improvement over the years in infrastructure, programmes, collaboration, and standing within the Nigerian university system.
“Because if you look at the university, over the years the university has been able to have improvement in terms of infrastructure, in terms of programmes, in terms of collaboration. And even their standing in the Nigerian university system,” he stated.
Professor Mohammed said the Silver Jubilee celebration, which coincides with the Eighth Combined Convocation Ceremony, drew stakeholders to appreciate the founder of the university and the present leadership.
“We are happy for the founder of the university, who is presently here, to his excellency, who has supported the university drastically in terms of funding, in terms of giving the university what the university required to grow,” he said. “And we also commend the sitting Vice Chancellor, because she has kept the flag flying and she is doing her very best.”
He linked the progress of the university to the quality of its leadership from inception.
“Part of the progress, part of the reason why we are seeing some progress in the university is because of the quality of leadership that the university is blessed to have, right from the inception,” he said. “If you look at it from Adamu Baikie, Shamsuddeen Omale, Professor Mikailu, Mainoma, my own good self, and Professor Saadatu.
If you look at the level of the Pro-chancellors, from Rilwanu Lukman, to Reverend Father Hassan Mathew Kukah, to Professor Emeritus Adamu Baikie, when he was later appointed Pro-chancellor, to now Professor Attahiru Jega. And they have guided the university, they have guided the management.”
Professor Mohammed expressed optimism about the future of the institution. “And I think we are praying and hoping that the university will grow from strength to strength,” he said.