Recently security meeting and some scholarly activities were held at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL) towards enhancing teaching-learning experience in the institution. ABDULSALAM MAHMUD brings the highlights.
Halting insecurity in student hostels
The management of IBBUL has assured students and parents that the spate of armed robbery attacks on campus and off-campus hostels at Lapai town will soon become history, as it has already evolved potent strategies to curb the robbery menace.
This was the outcome of an emergency meeting convened by the school management to find a lasting solution to security challenges at the institution and the recent violent attacks on students in their off-campus lodges.
Speaking at the meeting, VC expressed displeasure over the increasing rate of attacks on off-campus students by hoodlums.
The VC, who said IBBUL was known to be one of the most peaceful univerisities in Nigeria, assured that efforts would be intensified to provide adequate security for students who reside both on campuses and off-campuses.
Maiturare also sympathised with the students who sustained injuries during robbery attacks at some off-campus lodges recently and prayed for their quick recovery.
In their separate contributions at the meeting, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Lapai Police Division, Superintendent Yakubu Yusuf, and Officer-in-Charge of Lapai office, Department of State Security (DSS), Mohammed Yahaya, both promised to cooperate with the university in order to stem the tide of insecurity in the school, and Lapai town at large.
IBBUL’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Major Ndagi Tete Kudu (rtd), also pledged to strengthen collaboration with various security operatives in Lapai, assuring that effective security measures that will help to protect students and their properties shall soon be unveiled.
It was gathered that an expanded security meeting, involving the school management, students’ representatives, Lapai Emirate council, Lapai local government area, and other relevant stakeholders has been scheduled.
Tackling drug abuse by athletes
The 48th edition of the National Conference of Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD), which was hosted by IBBUL, may have come and gone. However, eminent speakers at the event have called on governments at all levels and relevant stakeholders in the country’s physical and health education sector, to urgently address the menace of drug abuse by youths, particularly athletes.
Declaring the conference open, Dr. Mohammed Gana, Permanent Secretary in Niger State’s Ministry of Sports Development, decried the rate at which youths especially athletes, engage in drug abuse so as to excel in sporting tournaments, without taking into consideration its health consequences.
Dr. Gana, who was the chairman of the occasion, said though inappropriate drug use and doping were rampant among athletes, the trend has become more prevalent among the youth who are the most productive group of a country’s population.
He said unless an urgent strategic measure was taken by relevant authorities to check drug and substance abuse by the youth, the future will remain gloomy for the country.
While pledging support for the activities of NAPHER-SD, Gana disclosed that the state government was aware of the dangers of the devastating vices among youths and athletes in the state, and is already evolving measures that would help nip drug abuse in the bud.
IBBUL vice chancellor, Proessor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, underscored the need for intellectuals and professional associations to periodically brain storm on issues that would foster the desired growth and development of the country.
He lamented that the rate of drug use and doping was increasing among athletes, while pointing out that the situation is having a multiplier effect on the productive age of the country. He applauded the executives of NAPHER-SD for having confidence in the university to host their conference.
“Government and relevant stakeholders must evolve effective measures to permanently address the social ill called drug abuse, for the future of Nigeria not to be destroyed,” the VC said.
Maiturare, disclosed that IBBUL was conscious of the critical role of sports and exercises in personal, social and national development of any country. Hence, it dedicates every Wednesday of the week for sporting activities, so as to enable members of the university participate in various activities.
Earlier, national president of NAPHER-SD, Professor Rafiu Okuneye, expressed appreciation for the unwavering support and cooperation received from the management of IBBUL, saying the association would continue to partner with the university in the area of sports development.
The keynote speaker, Professor James Omonu of the Department of Kinetics and Health Education in the school, called on government to strictly enforce laws against the abuse of drugs in the country.
Solar energy installation
A contingent of some 200-level students of the university have participated in the ‘Train the Trainer’ solar energy skills acquisition development programme at Asteven Group Solar Academy in Lagos.
They were sponsored by IBBUL as part of management’s commitment to promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship and culture of self-reliance among its students.
Receiving the trainees at the Management Committee Room (MCR) after the training programme in Lagos, Professor Maiturare reiterated management’s determination in ensuring that graduates of the university were not only sound in both learning and character, but also acquire relevant entrepreneurship skills that could make them self-reliant and employers of labour after graduation.
He pledged his support to the activities of Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED) of the university, saying efforts would be made to ensure that the productive skills acquired by the students are optimally utilised in the school.
The VC, while congratulating the students for completing the training programme successfully, urged them to judiciously apply the knowledge they gained from the training for their own empowerment.
Earlier, Director of CIED, Dr Mohammed Mawoli, while presenting the students to the VC, expressed appreciation for the unwavering support and cooperation the students received from the management board.
Mawoli disclosed that the students demonstrated a high sense of discipline during the training sessions at the academy, which made them stood out among their peers at the academy.
He appealed that management organise another workshop on solar energy development skills so that more students in the institution could benefit from the programme.
Speaking separately, the Student Union Government (SUG) and Solar Energy Club (SEC) presidents, Mohammed Muye and Shehu Rabiu, respectively, appreciated the unflinching support the students received from the management to attend the training programme in Lagos.
Multi-million naira classroom commissioned
Niger state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has commissioned a multimillion naira block of two classrooms constructed by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s Foundation, for the Staff School at the permanent site of IBBUL. During the commissioning Governor Bello reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that basic education is given the needed attention in the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Dr Yakubu Mohammed Bello, immensely commended UBA Foundation for extending its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to IBB university.
In his remarks, IBBUL governing council chairman, Dr. Mohammed Kudu Santuraki, applauded the philanthropic gesture of the management of UBA Foundation, describing the facility as a ‘magnificent and imposing infrastructural edifice’.
He promised to continue nurturing the healthy relationship between IBBUL and UBA, while also requesting for the extension of the gesture to other basic infrastructure of the university.
In his remark, VC lauded the intervention initiatives of UBA Foundation, stating that the gesture would go a long way to complement the efforts of the university in providing an enabling learning environment for the pupils of the staff school.
Earlier, head of Minna UBA regional office, Alhaji Danjuma Salihu, said the project was part of their Foundation’s CSR, which is aimed at strengthening the existing mutual relationship between UBA and the university.
In his vote of thanks, Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC, Academic) and chairman, board of IBBUL staff school, Professor Mohammed S. Mohammed, expressed appreciation to UBA Foundation for their laudable intervention, and assured that the project would be properly maintained and used for the purpose it was built for.
The occasion was graced by principal officers of the university, the Business Manager of UBA at Minna, Alhaji Alhassan Jibrin; the area control manager, Alhaji Kazeem Olatokun; and the bank’s business manager at Kutigi, Alhaji Isaku Shuaibu, as well as staff and pupils of the staff school.
Hosting ‘Merit Award’
IBBUL has held its “2019 Merit and Productivity Award” at a grand ceremony graced by prominent guests, principal officers of the school, lecturers staff and students.
Amidst pomp and pageantry, the university management dished out various types and sizes of gifts to the award-recipients, such as “Longest Serving Member of the University Governing Council Award” (Engr. Inuwa Musa); “Best Faculty of the Year Award” (Faculty of Agriculture); “Most Outstanding Directorate of the Year Award” (Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development); “Most Outstanding Department of the Year Award” (Biochemistry); and “Most Outstanding Non-Teaching Department of the Year Award” (Student Affairs Division).
DVC Academic and chairman of the ‘Award Committee’ also announced other categories of awards and awardees.
Speaking separately, VC Maitutare and the Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Mohammad Santuraki, congratulated the awardees and urged them not to relent, saying the “reward for hardwork is putting more extra work”.
They both thanked the school entire workforce for their team work, sacrifice and dedication to duty, urging them to remain committed to serving IBBUL patriotically, sincerely and meritoriously.
Responding on behalf of the awardees Professor Nuhu Obaje, thanked the university management for the honour done to them, describing the gesture as a great motivation to members of staff.
Cancer Awareness Club
The vice chancellor has inaugurated the student chapter of Cancer Awareness Club (CAC) at the school.
During the inauguration ceremony Maiturare charged the fresh members of CAC to live above board by conducting themselves in good manners, so that the general public will have confidence in them.
He maintained that the rate at which cancer disease is wreaking havoc on humanity, especially the younger generation, is quite worrisome.
“I want to sincerely express my deepest appreciation to Her Excellency First Lady of Niger state, Dr Amina Sani Bello, for using her pet project, the RAISE Foundation, to sensitise the general public on the deadly scourge called cancer,” he said.
While commending the university’s Directorate of Gender Affairs for partnering with RAISE Foundation, the VC also assured of management’s continued support to the activities of CAC in the school.
Also speaking at occasion, the medical head, RAISE Foundation, Dr. Stephen Ohize, pointed out that there was need for cancer awareness clubs to be established in schools to compliment the efforts of RAISE Foundation in aggressively enlightening the public on dangers of the life-threatening ailment.
Dr Ohize, applauded the efforts of IBBUL management on creating robust awareness on cancer and its devastating effects, while expressing satisfaction with activities of the school’s Centre for Gender Affairs.
Director, Centre for Gender Affairs, Dr. Juliana Dauda, explained that the motive for creating CAC is to reduce the chances of vulnerable members of the university community and Lapai residents from catching the disease.
“Indeed, the inauguration of our Cancer Awareness Club (CAC) would go a long way in helping to educate members of the public on the disease,” she said.
Mrs. Dauda, thanked RAISE Foundation for supporting the centre while also appreciating the school management for their unwavering support and cooperation.
Highlight of the event was a maiden seminar on ‘Gender Mainstreaming’, which had presentations on various topics by invited resource persons. The centre in collaboration with RAISE Foundation, had earlier in the day, held ‘Cancer Awareness walk’ to strategic areas on the school campus and Lapai town.