By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
The Vice Chancellor (VC), Bingham University Karu, Prof. William Barnabas Qurix, has stated that the university attaches premium to entrepreneurship training for its students to the extent that the institution approaches it differently and passionately too.
Prof. Qurix made the disclosure at the weekend while speaking to newsmen at the end of the 4th combined Convocation Ceremony of the institution held for 2,577 graduates of the its graduates and postgraduate schools
at its premises.
He said the university recognises the teaching of entrepreneurship studies as enshrined in its curriculum in line with the directive of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“But more seriously, we have developed a model that combines practical teaching of skills together with entrepreneurship education itself. And we have gone ahead to partner other universities towards achieving this goal,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Centre for African Leadership and Entrepreneurship is training their own staff and students, which is giving them current knowledge on entrepreneurship.
“And why we have been declared the Hub of Entrepreneurship, is that for some institutions, they see entrepreneurship as merely teaching of skills. But we see it beyond that. We’re also pioneering the introduction of discipline specific entrepreneurship studies. So that’s why we qualified to be the Hub of Entrepreneurship.
“By the way, the network for African student entrepreneurs, which was launched in 2014, I had the privilege of signing in as one of the trustees with the former executive secretary of the NUC, the Nigerian University Commission, Prof Okojie. Now, we pioneered the efforts to ensure that we mainstream the involvement of students in entrepreneurship studies; and we have transferred this kind of idea to Bingham University, and we’re doing very well,” he said.
To the the graduands, he congratulated them, urging them to be proactive with what they have learnt to excel out there as alumni of the institution.
In what appeared to be his farewell wishes for the graduands, the VC urged them in these words: “Merely acquiring skills is not enough. You need the education that you have acquired, and entrepreneurship education holds the key to national development, so work hard, avail yourselves of every opportunity. Take up your chances and make sure that you survive, and God will guide you.”
On what to expect ahead as the VC spends the one year tenure extension granted at the expiration of his 5-year tenure, Prof. Qurix, said he looks forward to consolidating achievements recorded so far across all frontiers of the university’s operations.
According to him, the watch word is continuity in all that has been done to achieve the current success stories to take the university to its next level.
He said, “I expect to see that this university fully reckoned with as a transnational institution. I also expect to see increase in students enrollment, increase in infrastructure construction, and, generally speaking, a turn around in its fortunes.”
Bingham University is a faith-based institution founded by the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) with focus primarily on impartation of entrepreneurial skills that would put it’s products on the path of self-reliance.
A total of two thousand, two hundred and fifty (2,250) undergraduate students and three hundred and twenty-seven (327) Postgraduate students, accumulated over four academic years of 2018/2019, 2019//2020, 2020/2021, 2021/20022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and, perhaps, other challenges, were conferred with First and Second Degrees during the convocation on Saturday, 5 November, 2022.
Breakdown shows that for 2018/2019 academic session, 28 First Class, 194 Second Class Upper, 271 Second Class Lower, 51 Third Class and 76 Medical Doctors were produced; for 2019/2020 Academic Session, 22 First Class, 154 Second Class Upper, 259 Second Class Lower and 239 Third Class, 5 Pass and 51 Medical Doctors emerged; and for 2020/2021 Academic Session, 18 First Class, 125 Second Class Upper, 169 Second Class Lower, 2 Pass and 48 Medical Doctors are graduating; while for 2021/2022 Academic Session, 10 First Class, 113 Second Class Upper, 144 Second Class Lower, 38 Third Class, 1 Pass and 48 Medical Doctors are to be graduated.
In total for the 4 sets are: 78 First Class, 586 Second Class Upper, 843 Second Class Lower, 512 Third Class, 8 Pass and 223 Medical Doctors were conferred with their deserved honour by the Chancellor of the university, His Royal Highness (HRH), Dr (Pharmacist) Luca Panya Baba.