KATSINA (Sundiata Post) – Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State says his administration is committed to restoring the state’s glorious days as education vanguard and agricultural hub. The governor stated this at the 9th to 13th combined convocation ceremony,
investiture of the chancellor and award of honorary doctorate degrees by Umaru Musa Yar’adua University (UMYU) Katsina, on Saturday.
Radda explained that his administration had embarked on upgrade of infrastructure and facilities in the existing schools aimed at improving the standard of education in the state.
He said that the government was constructing new schools and had recruited more than 7, 000 additional qualified teachers to contribute in boosting students enrollment.
The governor said promised that his administration would continue to commit huge percentage of state’s budget to the education sector.
Radda, while congratulating the graduands for being found worthy in learning and character and awarded various degrees, urged them to create jobs, become enterprising and employers of labour. The governor announced automatic employment for all the graduands with first class degrees.
In his remarks, Sen. Ibrahim Muhammad-Ida, the new Chancellor of the university, urged the school focus on academic excellence, students’ success and encourage community management. He reminded the graduating students of the need to maximise their time in meaning ventures saying, “we are born, we live, and we will die. We should not waste any time in our duration of existence doing irrelevance things.
“The keys to happiness are gratitude and being happy with what you have. Contentment is essential to a happy life. Next to gratitude is humility, so, learn to be humble.”
Also speaking, Alh. Abdullahi Faskari, Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, said the university was established in 2007 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, when he was the state governor.
He said the institution had recorded remarkable achievements in the academic excellence over the period.
Faskari, who is also the Secretary to the State Government, said the graduands were for various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from the 2016/2017 session to 2022/2023, respectively.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shehu Salihu-Muhammad, presented 10, 868 students for the award of bachelor degrees, postgraduate diplomas, masters degrees and PhDs in various fields after having been found worthy in character and learning.
He said that 9,946 of the graduands would be awarded bachelor degrees, while 922 would bag Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters Degrees and PhDs in various specialisations.
The university also conferred honorary degrees on the former governors of the state, Aminu Masari and Sa’idu Barda, respectively, as well as, a posthumous honorary degrees on late Alh. Garba Ammani and Hajiya Hassu Iro Inko, The VC advised the graduands to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come their ways with the same vigor and enthusiasm they have shown throughout their studies.
He said: “Be innovators and compassionate members of society. Your degree is not just a testament to your knowledge, but a beacon of your potential. “Use it to make a difference, to inspire others and build a future that is not only successful for yourself, but beneficial to the broader community.
“Stay curious, remain humble and always strive for excellence. The country needs your talents, skills and your unique perspective.
“Walk tall as products of UMYU; be our excellent ambassadors in the society; and above all, never forget your alma mater.” (NAN)
