National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Olatunde Oluwasola
Ahead the 75 years anniversary of the University of Ibadan, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has been decorated as one of the Ambassadors of the event.
The institution was established in 1948.
Earlier in February this year, the Institution inaugurated the planning committee to coordinate the activities of the anniversary.
While conferring Zulum with the status of UI@75 Ambassador in Maiduguri, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale described him as a compassionate governor who great impact.
According to him, Zulum is an accomplished professor of agricultural engineering and a compassionate Governor who in his first term as governor undertook 556 major projects, adding that he completed 70% of the projects within 4 years and one-third of the capital projects were on education.
He also stated that one of the Governor’s hallmarks is to build mega secondary schools with 1500 student capacity and equipped enough to compare with some universities.
“True greatness begets greatness. University of Ibadan is truly great and remains great. Your excellency, sir, you are one of our great alumni. Your predecessor in office, in view of the greatness imbibed from the University, became the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are proud of you both sir, as our great Alumni”.
The Chairman of the UI@75 Planning Committee, Professor Peter Olapegba identified UI@75 as a priority Projects.
He said the projects were identified based on the Vision document of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan while contesting to be Vice Chancellor.
He said the Vice-Chancellor in the said document, promised to raise a sum of $200, 000, 000 (Two Hundred Million Dollars) for various projects in the University adding that the UI@75 Anniversary has been designated as a vehicle to drive the process.
According to Professor Olapegba the five priority projects are:
- Endowment Fund N100, 000, 000, 000 (One Hundred Billion Naira)
- Infrastructure Development (Smart classrooms, IT Infrastructures and Laboratories) N10, 000, 000, 000 (Ten Billion Naira)
- Alternative Energy: N10, 000, 000, 000 (Ten Billion Naira)
- Indigent Scholarship Fund N200, 000, 000 (Two Hundred Million Naira)
- Staff Development & Mobility Fund: N10, 000, 000, 000 (Ten Billion Naira)
Professor Olapegba said it is the University ‘s expectation that our Ambassadors and Ambassador Extraordinaire will pick any of the projects and mobilise friends and associates to raise fund for the projects picked.
Governor Zulum expressed appreciation to the University for finding him worthy. He promised to provide the political will to ensure the achievement of the Committee’s objectives.
He noted that the Committee’s objectives are germane to the growth of the Education sector assuring that he would give support.
He accepted to deliver one of the four Anniversary Lectures.
Professor Zulum said he would continue to partner and collaborate with all efforts aimed at repositioning the fragile education sector of the country.
He urged the University of Ibadan to collaborate with the University of Maiduguri and the Borno State University in the area of Staff Development
The 9- man team led to Maiduguri by the Vice-Chancellor included Registrar of the University, Mr Ganiyu O. Saliu; Chairman of the UI@75 Anniversary Planning Committee, Professor Peter O. Olapegba; Dr Mobolaji O. Omobowale, Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering; members of the Committee, Professor Ibrahim A. Oladosu, Dr. Demola Lewis; Mr Adebowale A. Adeosun, Director University Advancement Centre; Mrs Adejoke O. Akinpelu, PAR/PRO Directorate of Public Communication; and Mr Kayode Jolayemi, the Passages and Protocols Officer of the University.
