Obi of Onitsha lauds ABU Zaria mgt for maintaining standard; Vivacious atmosphere at convocation

By Yetunde Bada
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, on Saturday praised the management of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, for maintaining high academic standard in the academia.
The Igwe, who is the Chancellor of the University, said this at the 40th convocation ceremony and the 50th anniversary celebration of the institution.
Congratulating all graduating students, the royal majesty said the school had turned out heroes worthy of mention in every facet of life.
“The Ahmadu Bello University is a citadel of learning that has maintained its exceptional performance and academic excellence through the years.
“I congratulate all students and their families and wish them well in their future endeavours,’’ he said.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, promised that as its Corporate Social Responsibility, the corporation would sponsor some of the best-graduating students to P.H.D levels.
He said the NNPC was working hard to ensure that the country diversified and stopped total dependence on oil saying this will open up all sectors and make Nigeria self-sufficient.
“Improving agricultural productivity and commercialisation, and linking producers to markets are among some of the important measures required in this regard.
“Examples of countries such as Chile and Malaysia confirmed the proposition that a healthy rural economy is necessary for industrialisation because the linkages between the two are obvious,’’ he said.
Reeling out the university’s achievements over the years, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, said unlike the practice of waiting for certificates for years, the university would be issuing certificates immediately.
“It is unprecedented that for the first time in the history of the university all graduating students are getting their certificates immediately.
“I charge you all to live up to the expectation of the university, your family members as you go out to the real world.
“The university will sustain the age-long tradition of developing students who will go out to impact the nation positively,’’ he said.
Earlier, the university conferred an award on the NNPC Group Managing Director after he was conducted round his former department of mechanical engineering, some laboratories and the school’s refinery.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris among several others.
The institution awarded first degrees to 8,260 students, postgraduate degrees to 3,600, Ph.Ds to 256 and Masters degrees to 2,300 students across 13 faculties.
Meanwhile there was a spirited, energetic atmosphere at the 40th convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U) Zaria on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that although the school was on break, hordes of students were seen streaming through the gates of the school as early as 8:00 a.m.
It was pomp and pageantry as graduands, their family and friends were seen full of joy at the occasion, which doubled as the 50th anniversary of the institution.
Speaking to NAN, a Public Administration graduate, Hauwa Musa, could not stop smiling as she said “I cannot just explain how I feel.
“I sought this admission for years and today is the crown to all my efforts. My father and mother and siblings too are overjoyed,’’ she said, pointing to a group of people nearby.
Also, Abubakar Yahaya, who studied Arabic and was taking pictures in his gown, said “Alhamdulillah! Today, I leave A.B.U but the school will never leave me.
“This is a great institution and what I have learnt here will remain with me for the rest of my life.’’
Another graduating student, Bello Abdulkareem, said: “I am graduating as a medical doctor; the first in my family; I am joyous; I am happy and I give thanks to God.’’
NAN also spoke to Simon Caleb, who graduated from the Department of Social Studies and Civic Education.
He said said: “I hope to impart what I have learnt to the upcoming generation.
“I know that with what we have been taught, the nation will be great again if the upcoming generation can imbibe it because it will stop a lot of ills.’’
This year, 8,260 undergraduates got their first degrees, while 50 made first class.
Aside that, 3,600 were awarded postgraduate degrees, 256 Ph.Ds, 2,300 masters degrees across 13 faculties, including Administration, Agriculture, Engineering, Life Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences.