Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has challenged faith-based institutions in the country to produce graduates trained in spirituality and morality in order to bail Nigeria out of its current moral decadence of corruption and social vices.
Delivering the 20th-anniversary lecture of the first Islamic faith-based university in Nigeria, the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara state, themed, Two decades of excellence: Al-Hikmah University’s impact on scholarship and educational development in Nigeria, Governor Zulum also urged Nigerian youth to imbibe the culture of humility and hardwork.
Governor Zulum, who said he was the son of a peasant farmer and a commercial driver who was plying Maiduguri-Okene-Ibadan roads, advised youth to imbibe the culture of respect for parents, sacrifice for humanity and love for hardwork.
The governor also said that shortcuts to anything in life usually end in regret and disaster, adding that, “hardwork is good but humility takes you far in life”.
“Hard work is one thing. But humility is the best. When I finished my Masters degree, I went to my village to go to the farm with my parents. I could have remained in Maiduguri wearing Babanrigan, but because I have to be obedient to my parents that is why I am what I am today”, he said.
In his address at the 20th anniversary dinner/award night of the university, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Noah Yusuf, said that the most pressing challenge of the university is inadequate funds.
The VC also said that the spiral effect of the funding challenge is the inability to meet some critical needs of the University.
Professor Yusuf, therefore, appealed for support from friends of the university in the following areas: (i) Construction of hostels to be endowed after the name of the donor. (ii) Construction of Faculty building to be endowed in the name of the donor. (iii) Joint construction of classrooms and offices to be endowed in the name of the donors.
(iv) Scholarship grant to indigent students. (v) Research funding for academic staff of the University.
Also speaking, the former governor of Katsina state, Alhaji Aminu Masari, described the founder of Al-Hikmah University, Dr. Abdulraeem Oladimeji as a great contributor to quality education in Nigeria.
The two-term former governor of Katsina state said that Oladimeji’s efforts at prioritizing education in Nigeria have contributed meaningful impact on the lives of Nigerian youths.
