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Sokoto State Varsity graduates 1473 students, 36 First Class Degrees
By Our Special Correspondent in Sokoto
Sokoto State University, Sokoto, on Saturday, successfully churned out no fewer than 1473 students, out of which thirty six had First Class Degrees .
The University held its Maiden Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd Convocation Ceremony, on Saturday, for the 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 Academic Sessions .
Speakong at the event, the Visitor to the University, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said that,the day provided an opportunity for the celebration of academic excellence .
Tambuwal expressed delight with the acceptance of Vice President,Professor Yemi Osinbajo,to personally deliver Convocation Lecture of the Institution.
The Sokoto State Governor said:” Education remains the pivotal sector of Sokoto State Government, to achieve the desired level of development of the state in the political, economic, Scientific and Technological spheres .
” From 2015 to date, the sector has been getting the largest shares of the annual budgets of the state and we will sustain this happy tempo.”
Accoridng to Tambuwal, his administration will ensure the adequate funding of education , at all levels.
The Governor lauded the University’s Council , Management, Staff and students for diligently keeping afloat.
The Governor directed the Management to liaise with the Council, to see to the possibility of retaining the First Class Graduates in the Institution.
He announced the renaming of the Senate Building after the late Marafan Sokoto , Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, the former Pro-Chancellor, as well as renaming the Library after his late predecessor, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, Magatakarda Babba.
Tambuwal commended the former Governor of the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko,for his foresight and vision in establishing the University.
Also speaking, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, commended the University,on behalf of the late Marafan Sokoto family, for the confirment on him the posthumous Honorary Degree of Laws (LL.O),Honoris Causa.
He said that,the gesture was not in anyway miscplaced as the late Marafan Sokoto was an epitome of humility, scholarship, piety and patriotism.
Bagudu noted that, the University has proven it’s mettle ,,saying, ” I am hereby directing the State Ministry of Higher Education, to liaise with the Management of the Institution and brainstorm on how Kebbi State Government can advance more support to it.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, thanked Wamakko for establishing the University,just as he lauded Tambuwal for sustaining it to it’s present enviable position.
The Sultan also appealed to the Management of the Institution,to among other things, set up the Faculty of Sokoto Caliphate Studies, to broaden the study of the myriad of literature written by the Founders of the Sokoto Caliphate,over 200 years ago.
The Chancellor, Dr Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, Emir of Dutse, said, ” I must congratulate Your Excellency for investing handsome resources in the educational future of your people.
” The good people of Sokoto State are well assured that, contemporary and future generations stand to benefit from your vision, dreams and commitments in availing great educational opportunities to our youth .”
The Pro-Chancellor, Engineer Bello Suleiman , lauded for sustaining the adequate funding of the University, averring,” he has shown extreme passion to ensure the successful conduct of its academic activities. ”
The Vice Chancellor,Professor Sani Muhammad Dangoggo, acknowledged the initiatives of Tambuwal that are contributing immensely towards the development of the University,
He cited some of the giant strides facilitated by Tambuwal to among others, include the full accreditation of all the programmes of the University, establishment of three additional Faculties and allocation, as well as commencement of a Teaching Hospital for the proposed College of Medical Sciences .
In a vote of thanks , Commissioner of Higher Education, Professor Bashir Garba, also commended Tambuwal for the massive infrastructural tarnsformation of the Institution.
Garba,.among other giant strides, also gave a pat on the back of Governor Tambuwal for ensuring the adequate of all tertiray educational institutions in the state.
He also corroborated all the accolades showered on Wamakko for establishing rhe University, saying,” It all begins here, we will continue to lead,while others will follow.”
Meanwhile, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, was invested as the Pioneer Chancellor of the University, while he was also conferred with an Honorary Degree of Letters ( D. Litt.).
In the same vein, the pioneer Pro-Chancellor the University,the late Marafan Sokoto,Alhaji Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi, was also conferred with a posthumous Honorary Degree of Law(LL.D).
Similarly,the Iconic Business Mogul, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabi”u, Chairman of BUA Group, was also conferred with the Honorary Degree of Science ( D. Sc.) by the University.
Responding shortly after receiving the Honorary Degree on behalf of her late Father, Alhaji Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi, his daughter, Dr Zainab Bagudu Shinkafi, said that, the deceased was a firm believer of the desire to fully develop Nigeria.
Accoridng to her, he was also committed to the educational development of Nigeria, especially the education of the girl child .
Dr Zainab Bagudu announced the endowment of a N 5million Annual Chair in the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies of the University,under the Umaru Shinkafi Education Endowment Foundation.
The Wife of the Kebbi State Governor also announced a N 350,000, Annual Prize for the best graduating student in Political Science , as well as N 350,000, Annual Prize,each, for the best graduating students in Basic Sciences and Microbiology.
Also responding on behalf of the BUA Group Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Direcror, Engineer Yusuf Binji,said,” I am proud to have received the Degree on behalf of my Chairman.
” He is committed to the bolateieng of educational development of Sokoto State and he has a renewed zeal, to contribute to the construction of the proposed Faculty of ICT.
” This will help in greatly bridging the infrastructural deficit in the Institution. I am also commending Gov. Tambuwal and the good people of Sokoto State for being grateful hosts.
” I must also acknowledge the sustained support and tremendous goodwill of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, towards the BUA Group.”
