By Hajara Leman

President Bola Tinubu has unveiled plans of hybrid electrification of the Federal University Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Tinubu also announced plans for the construction of a dam on the Kashere River by the Ministry of Water Resources.

The President, who disclosed this at the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th combined convocation ceremony of FUK on saturday, in Kashere, was represented by Prof. Ibrahim Garba, the Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

He said the dam project was intended to support the university’s agricultural training programme and improve water access for surrounding communities.

Tinubu emphasised government’s unwavering commitment to promoting access to quality education.

He recalled the launch of the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), stating that, “With NELFUND, no brilliant mind shall be left behind simply because of circumstance.”

The president also urged Nigerian universities to explore sustainable funding models.

“The era of over-reliance on government subventions must give way to innovative revenue generation, strategic partnerships, intellectual property development, and well-managed endowment funds,” he said.

Commending the efforts of staff, management, and the Gombe State Government in the development of the university, Tinubu called for continued cooperation to foster peace and security in the North-East and to further position universities as “vanguards of national renaissance.

In his welcome speech, Prof. Umaru Pate, Vice-Chancellor of FUK, noted that the academic profile of the institution was on the rise.

Pate said the university had prioritised academic relevance through robust research activities and collaborations with credible national and international institutions.

He said that during the period under review, the university hosted 10 major national and international conferences to enhance its scholarly visibility.

“These efforts coincided with a significant increase in both undergraduate and postgraduate enrolment, which rose from 8,311 to 17,345, along with a corresponding increase in graduation output,” Pate said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

By Hajara Leman

President Bola Tinubu has formally installed Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, as the Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere in Gombe State.

The investiture held on Saturday in Gombe, coincided with the university’s combined 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th convocation ceremonies for the award of higher degrees and the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees.

Tinubu was represented at the event by Prof. Ibrahim Garba, the Vice-Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

“By the powers conferred on me as the visitor to this university, I formally install you, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Dr Lawrence Agubuzu, as the Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere.

“I also confer upon you all the rights, powers, and privileges pertaining to this office,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Umaru Pate, pledged his loyalty and support to the newly installed Chancellor.

Pate said the university council also approved the conferment of the honorary Doctorate of Letters on the Chancellor.

“By the authority vested in me as Vice-Chancellor of FUK, I confer upon you, Your Majesty, the Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters,” he said.

The Chancellor, Igwe Agubuzu, expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed on him.

He commended the Emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu III, and other emirs for promoting peace and cultural continuity in the area.

The royal father enjoined the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution, and to uphold the values, excellence, and integrity instilled in them.

He said that the other four recipients of the honorary doctorate degrees had became part of the legacy and future of the university by virtue of their conferment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university also conferred honorary doctorate degrees on four notable Nigerians in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the national development and nation building across sectors.

They are: Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Dr Kole Shettima and Rep. Abubakar Bichi.

Pate was recognised for his tireless work in health policy, public health leadership, and improving healthcare access for Nigerians.

One of the recipients, Kalu, thanked the University Governing Board, the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor for the honour bestowed on them.

He also lauded Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for his contributions to the university and urged him to sustain the tempo.

NAN reports that the university has earlier awarded first degree certificates to 6,870 graduates, during a convocation ceremony held on Friday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijendu Iheaka/Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere (FUK), Prof. Umaru Pate, has urged tertiary institutions to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tackling unemployment and poverty.

Pate made the call on Friday in Kashere, Gombe State, during the university’s third combined convocation ceremony for undergraduate graduands.

He explained that AI was causing some jobs to disappear while creating new opportunities, saying only those with relevant skills would benefit from AI-driven employment.

He stated that for Nigerian youths to remain relevant, universities must adopt modern approaches to education focused on current knowledge and technological innovation.

Pate said stakeholders must stop preparing students for obsolete jobs, as AI was reshaping the employment landscape at an unprecedented pace.

He called on universities to shift from traditional teaching methods and prioritise AI-driven training to meet evolving global demands.

“At this university, we avoid training students for jobs that will soon become obsolete due to automation and AI,” he said.

He cited recent reports predicting that over 92 million jobs may vanish within five years, while 120 million new roles will emerge through AI and digital technologies.

“We require fresh mindsets, updated skills, and renewed cognitive and emotional capacities to stay relevant or risk fading into global irrelevance,” he warned.

Pate stressed that oil was no longer the global economic driver. Instead, knowledge and innovation had become the new forces of global relevance.

He said Nigerian universities must take the lead in embracing the worldwide transition towards a knowledge-based economy.

Pate called for greater investment in youth education, describing young people as the true engine of Nigeria’s future.

He said investing in their education could help address poverty, crime, conflict, corruption, climate change and other developmental challenges.

The VC urged the graduating students to focus on personal development, stating that digital skills and critical thinking were essential for success in today’s world.

He encouraged the 6,870 graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the university wherever they go. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Kamal Tayo Oropo

By Leonard Okachie

Brig.-Gen. Hassan Bello, Commander, 14 Brigade Nigerian Army Headquarters, Ohafia, in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia, has urged students to consider taking up a career in the military.

Bello made this statement during a public speaking engagement for secondary school students, organised by the Brigade on Friday at Ngwa High School, Aba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is part of activities for the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).

Bello, represented by the brigade’s Chief of Staff, Col. Maxwell Maaji, said that the army offered many career opportunities and benefits.

The commander, who disclosed that the Nigerian Army was celebrating 162 years of existence, said that it had remained professional and resilient despite challenges.

He reiterated the army’s commitment to patriotism and national development.

Bello explained that NADCEL is an annual event honouring members of the Nigerian Army for their role in defending the nation’s territorial integrity.

In a presentation, the brigade’s Education Officer, Maj. Patrick Otubo, enlightened the students on some basic ethical topics and guided them on possible career paths in the Nigerian Army.

He urged the students to be patriotic, imbibe honesty and integrity, as well as abstain from cultism, drug abuse, and other social vices.

Otubo, who allayed the fears expressed by some students about becoming soldiers, highlighted the criteria for selection and enlistment into the Nigerian Army.

In his remarks, Rev. Canon John Mammah, the principal of the school, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for organising the event.

Mammah said that it would greatly impact the students.

A student of St. James Model Secondary School, Aba, commended the army for organising the programme, saying that the event had ignited her interest in joining the Nigerian Army.

NAN reports that the event, which brought together students from some schools in Abia, featured an interactive session, cultural dance, and other side attractions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Victor Adeoti/Folasade Adeniran

The Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Economics (ASE), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has called for greater collaboration among universities and urged them to confront pressing global challenges.

Adedimeji made the call in his address titled “Ideas Rule the World”, delivered at the fourth Public Lecture of the university in Abuja on Wednesday.

The lecture, “The 21st Century Nigerian University: Pitfalls and Pathways”, was delivered by Prof. Moses Ochonu of Vanderbilt University, United States.

Citing a study by the University of Lincoln, Adedimeji identified the 10 grand challenges of the 21st century as shifting economic powers, living in a global society, absence of vision and foresight, and technological disruption.

Others include migration and mobility, which he said is reflected in the “Japa syndrome” in Nigeria, conflict and war, civic disaffection, and growing inequality of wealth and income.

He also added environmental and ecological degradation, as well as issues of identity and changing societal norms.

He noted that tackling these challenges would require functional university education and urged higher institutions to unite in responding to both global and national concerns.

Using the metaphor of an eagle that soars high with a tortoise before dropping it to break its shell and eat it, he encouraged Nigerians to embrace challenges as opportunities to rise.

“An obstacle,” he said, “is converted by an eagle into an opportunity to deploy its full strength and soar even higher”.

He, however, advised that unlike the solitary eagle, universities should operate through synergy and cooperation.

“I, therefore, call for concerted efforts of the Triple Helix, the government, academia, and industry/society to accord the university its pride of place by doing what is right at the right time.

“It is said that one can travel fast alone, but only far together,” he added.

In his lecture, Guest Speaker Prof. Moses Ochonu identified crucial challenges confronting Nigerian universities.

Ochonu decried the subversion of the cosmopolitan ethos of higher education, which he said had given way to provincialism and academic inbreeding.

He advocated for the introduction of a Student Bill of Rights and stressed the need to recognise and reward excellent teaching in order to improve educational quality.

The event was attended by key stakeholders in the university system, including the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu.

Also in attendance was the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), among others. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade