The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Abdullahi Zuru

  • Buhari commended for signing bill establishing University of Petroleum Resources

    Buhari commended for signing bill establishing University of Petroleum Resources

    Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the bill establishing the institution into law.

    Mr. Zuru, who is a professor of petroleum law and policy gave the commendation at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Prof. Zuru said the university had been struggling in the past 10 years because past leaders failed to pass the bill establishing the university into law.

    He also identified special funding from the oil and gas industry as another reason why the bill was not passed in the past.

    According to him, the passage of the bill into law would bring development to the university and the Niger delta region.

    He commended the National Universities Commission (NUC), Minister of Education, Minister of Justice and other stakeholders for their roles in the passage of the bill into law.

    He said: “This achievement is our collective feet as a university. The survival of this university was actually hinged on the passage of this bill into law. We are very optimistic that a lot will be tricking in.

    “The university has been struggling for the past 10 years to have this bill signed into law. It didn’t happen. It is a huge development for the university. Rivalries from conventional universities delayed the passage of the bill into law in the past.

    “It will enable the university to draw from the experiences of similar specialized centres globally. It will also enable the university to build strategic partnership with development partners.”

    He said the university has secured N1.2 billion from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund as special intervention project to develop the university.

    Prof. Zuru added that the university currently runs 13 programmes which are fully accredited by the National Universities Commission.

  • Retired Justice highlights genesis of Nigeria’s challenges

    Retired Justice highlights genesis of Nigeria’s challenges

    A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Usman Muhammad, says neglect of history and the numerous lessons contained in it was the genesis of myriad of challenges plaguing Nigeria.

    Muhammad spoke in Sokoto at the opening of the second National Conference of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the conference is: ”History, People, Religion and Culture of Kebbi (Kabi) Kingdom since 1515”.

    Muhammad, who was the chairman of the occasion said: ”This neglect covers nearly all levels of our educational system.

    “It is disheartening that History, in spite of its relevance to the life of individual and group and its contributions to national development, we learned, has been phased out of the school curricula.

    “If what we continue to hear about the fate of History in our schools is true, then, this is shocking news for the nation, as we are merely helping to either erode or erase our own identities.”

    In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State announced a donation of N30 million as a grant to the institution by three states- Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara- for further researches into the defunct Kebbi, Gobir and Kabi Kingdoms.

    Tambuwal also challenged the nation’s universities to help in proffering possible solutions to the problems bedeviling the nation.

    His Kebbi State counterpart, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, called for urgent revival and imbibing of values and ethics that the nation’s forefathers used to build a solid foundation for it.

    ”They include honesty, dedication, patriotism, peaceful coexistence, respect for one another, piety and patience,” he said.

    The keynote speaker, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi North), called for a spirited fight against corruption, the revival of local industries and the training of youths in modern skills.

    ”We must dig deep into our history to bring forth our values and traditions in the task of tackling the major problems facing us today and building our future.

    ” These include knowledge and scholarship, selfless leadership and strength of character, as well as tenacity, sense of purpose, religious faith and multiculturalism, among others,’’ Abdullahi said.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, said that the contributions of ancestors of the defunct Kabi Kingdom and their successors in building a virile society for the last five centuries were unparalleled.

    Zuru promised the university’s resolve to continue to discharge its mandate of diligent teaching and learning, as well as helping to solve societal problems.

    Also, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mera, said any nation that does not know its history could hardly and accurately measure its progress and growth.

  • Varsity lecturer dismissed for altering results

    Varsity lecturer dismissed for altering results

    The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said it had dismissed a lecturer (names withheld), for altering students’ results.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Saturday but declined to mention the affected lecturer’s full details.

    Zuru said “that management of the university took that drastic action to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “The action is to remind academic and non-academic staffers of what might happen if they try such an act.

    “We will not hesitate to wield the big stick on any staff found wanting for any infractions in this regard.

    “The university has no fewer than 30,000 students and the guidelines are there for all to follow. We will not compromise the set standards.”

    Zuru cautioned students against examination malpractice and vices, stressing that the university would not tolerate any ill behaviour.

    He said students must conduct both their academic and extracurricular activities in line with laid down rules and regulations or be sanctioned accordingly.

  • NUC approves four engineering programmes for Usmanu Danfodiyo varsity

    NUC approves four engineering programmes for Usmanu Danfodiyo varsity

    Approval has been given to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto by the National Universities Commission (NUC), to commence four core engineering programmes.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru disclosed this to journalists in Sokoto on Wednesday.

    Zuru named the programmes as Civil, Electrical/Electronics, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, adding that the programmes would take off in the 2016/2017 academic session.

    He said:” This feat was achieved sequel to series of accreditation visits conducted at the institution by various teams from the commission.

    ” The routine accreditations for other programmes at the university are also ongoing.

    ” This is to ensure that all the academic programmes of the institution are being done according to the set standards.”

    According to Zuru, the exercises focused on issues such as the provision of adequate and qualified lecturers, laboratories, classrooms and equipment, among others.

    ”The exercises are ongoing and so far, so good, we are not anticipating any problem.”

    On Treasury Single Account (TSA),Zuru said that it had not hampered the activities of the university.

    He stated that the university was getting all its requests approved, saying that the initial teething problems of the system had been overcome.

    ” Hitherto, the system affected the issues of research grants and funds meant for endowments.

    ” However, these problems are now history and all is well.”

    Zuru, however, advocated more funding for the education sector at all levels in the country.

    Meanwhile, Zuru has commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, for ensuring the commencement of the rehabilitation work on the Sokoto city to the university’s main campus road.

    ” Major works are ongoing on the bridges and culverts on the road was devastated by flood in 2010.

    ” The project, when completed, will really boost academic and socioeconomic activities in the institution and some adjoining communities.

    ”We are also appealing to the Minister to extend the similar gesture to the dilapidated internal road network at our main campus.”

  • Accident: University refutes story on death of students

    Accident: University refutes story on death of students

    Authorities of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on Wednesday refuted a story being circulated about an accident that allegedly claimed the lives of six of its students.

    In a statement signed and issued to reporters in Sokoto by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru ‎said ” Actually, there was such an accident involving our students, two days ago.

    ” However, there was no any death recorded as a result of the road traffic crash.

    ” As at today, Wednesday, only one female student is responding to treatment at our clinic and she is nursing a deep cut.

    ” The accident as depicted in the picture of the affected bus that had gone viral in the social media has therefore not claimed any life.”

    The statement further appealed to the students and other members of the university community to desist from spreading, ” such dangerous rumours.”

    It also advised that, clarifications should always be sought henceforth, before spreading unsubstantiated and damaging stories about the institution.