Daud Adebayo
The Governor of Kwara State, Mal. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has promised that construction of the satellite campuses of kwara State University at Osi and Ilesha-Baruba would begin next year January.
Mal. Abdulrahman made the promise Saturday during his address as the visitor at the second day and grand finale of the 8th and 9th convocation ceremony of Kwara State University (KWASU) for the award of 340 Masters, 60 Ph.D. degrees, and 6 honorary degrees.
In would be recalled that 6,620 graduands were awarded First Degrees on Friday, with 98 of them in First Class division, while the third Chancellor of the University, Dr. Johnson Bamidele Adewumi was conferred with an honorary Doctorate degree in Technology.
Gov. Abdulrahman, who noted that KWASU has become a university of community development, commended the management and students of the University for their giant strides in community development, and Iduroaeronautical engineering and research.
The Governor expressed his hope that the school would continue along that path, while pledging the support of the government and people of Kwara State to the University.
He congratulated the postgraduate awardees, and urged them to be good ambassadors of the University.
He said, “What this confirms is that KWASU has really become a university of community impact, and it is my hope that the school would continue along this path …To the graduands, I hope to see at the top very soon. Always remember that you are from Malete.
“I have been trying to secure the funding to complete the satellite campuses of the KWASU at Osi and Ilesha-Baruba. Construction would begin in January next year. This would not only improve the university I terms of the number of faculty and students; it would also help open up the two communities, tackle rural-urban migration, and create fertile ground for intellectual, social, economic growth.”
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi (SAN) noted that the conferment of honorary doctorate degree on “distinguished” Nigerians was in recognition of the values they represent in their various field of endeavours.
Prof. Akanbi expressed the expectation of KWASU that the honorary awardees would be good “alumni” of the University and contribute to her development. “Importantly, seven (7) eminent Nigerians who have and are contributing tremendously to nation building shall be conferred honorary doctorate degrees.
These Nigerians are: the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari; Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari; Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi OFR; Dr. Johnson Bamidele Adewumi; Alhaji Kamoru Yusuf; Dr. Babatunde Jolayemi Omotowa and Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu.
“The selection of these distinguished personalities was not a hard choice for us to make as a University. Each and every one of them represents values worthy of emulation; they epitomize the qualities we desire in our graduates. They represent excellence in their different fields and their contributions to the advancement of society are verifiable.
“Like we admonish all our alumni, we expect them to bring honour to us and contribute to the growth and development of their alma-mater. Kwara State University looks up to our distinguished alumni to make their impact felt in the institution; we desire to look around our campus and find their names boldly inscribed on infrastructure that will outlive them. We aspire that they will use their immense social network and net worth to facilitate the advancement of their new alma mata. These are some of what we expect from them.”
The Vice-Chancellor sought the support of the government in the reconstruction of the Shao-Malete road, improvement of the road network within the campus, wading off the threat from encroachers, improving security, building of the College of Medicine, and provision of subventions.
He also called on private and corporate investors as well as donors to help the University in dealing with students accommodation challenges, updating equipment and infrastructure of the Centre for Distance learning and E-learning Education, construction of a standard clinic, a 3000-capacity amphitheatre, and a standard sport complex.
Dignitaries at the event included the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum; Senator representing Borno South, Sen. Ali Muhammed Ndume; the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, among other royal fathers dististingueshed personalities.
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