By Dominic Akpensuen, LAFIA –
The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari has commissioned a befitting senate building and central engineering workshop for the proposed Faculty of Engineering and Uniklikum Institute of Molecular Diagnostic and Disease Control Laboratory Building in Nasarawa State University (NSUK) Keffi.
Prof. Gambari stated that the new senate building and the engineering workshop which is constructed by Tertiary Educational Trust Fund (TETFUND), worth three billion naira as the special high impact project intervention.
The chief of staff expressed a profound gratitude to TETFund as an agency saddled with the responsibility of funding tertiary institutions across the nation and Nasarawa State University inclusive.
He disclosed that, the commissioning of the new senate building and other projects in NSUK is historic and a significant milestone, while urging the university management to judiciously utilize the structure.
In his welcome speech, the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University Keffi, Prof. Suleiman Bala Muhammed, said, the institution from its humble beginning has grown to the peak that have in place 68 undergraduate programmes, which spread across over 54 departments and 8 faculties.
Prof. Bala maintains that, the university have postgraduate school with robust postgraduate programmes, 6 directorates, 11 centers and 5 institutions.
The VC appealed to stakeholders, spirited individuals, traditional institutions, corporate entities and the state government for the matter of urgency and arrest the gruesome challenges facing the university.
Prof. Bala stated that the immediate construction of hostels for adequate accommodation for students, vehicles for mobility during students field survey, inadequate ICT infrastructure and low internet connectivity.
Others are provision of teaching and learning facilities, like laboratories, lecture theatres, interactive learning aids and studio, lack of offices for staff, construction of access road in the campus, the porous nature of the campuses that demand immediate attention by fencing as a result of security challenges facing students and staff, and compensation of Land across the three permanent site in Keffi, among others.
On his part, the Governor of Nasarawa State and the visitor of the university, Engr. Abdullahi Sule applauded TETFUND for providing finances for the edifice to ensure effective and efficiency conducive learning environment.
Sule, reiterated that the university senate is the highest decision making organ which is responsible for all the academic affairs for the growth of the institution.
He added that, the commissioning of faculty of engineering is to enhance technical education as being the live wire of the society which is now driven by modern technology.
In the same vein, the National Chairman of APC, Sen. Dr. Abdullahi Adamu who double as the chairman of the occasion salutes the university management team for the giant stride recorded.
Adamu who is the founder of the university established in 2001 about twenty years ago said the chronicle and growth of the institution has brought happiness and make him proud for being alive to witness the development of the school from strength to strength.
In a goodwill message, the Emir of Keffi and the Pro Chancellor of NSUK Alh. Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa, cautioned students to desist from bad friends and evil associations.
Chindo added that, the report of petty stealing, such as motorcycles, vehicles and properties in Keffi metropolis is alarming, therefore, he called on those involved to be warn.
He further called on NANS, SUG, Alumni and other association on the campus to build befitting projects and stop requesting and specializing on giving awards instead of studies.