Mr. Joshua Uwem Essien, who was announced as the valedictorian during the finale of the 10th and 11th Convocation Ceremonies held by the Kwara state University, Malete, Kwara state on Saturday, which featured award of degrees, has asserted that ‘education’ is not ‘a scam’.
He had apparently said this in reaction to the catchphrase that is now commonly said by young people in the country ‘school na scam’.
While giving his speech, Esien, who rejected the notion that education is a scam, submitted that education ‘is rather a reassure trove of wisdom, a sanctuary of knowledge and a gateway to infinite possibilities’.
‘From bonding with like-minded intellectuals and learning from scholars, who have walked the same path to emerge with innovative skills and aura of integrity, schooling is not a scam’ he added.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that a total of 16,315 students including a physically challenged person, graduated from the university on Saturday while 183 among those in the first degree category graduated with first class honours.
Former Majority Lender, Kwara state House of Assembly, Hon Wahab Omotoshe was among those who received doctorate degrees at the event.
Giving his speech , Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq restated the commitment of his administration to investing in all levels of education to ensure creation of a more enabling environment for teaching and learning.
Represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mary Arinde, the governor said the university was established to produce graduates that will take their destiny in their own hands while advising the graduands to strive to make themselves job creators and not job seekers.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also noted that KWASU has demonstrated zero tolerance for social vices such as examination malpractices, cultism, internet fraud, and drug addiction, among others.
Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh urged the state government to take steps that would hinder those attempting to encroach on the land belonging to the university while expressing the need to clearly state the amount of land that was allocated to the institution ahead of its establishment in 2009.
‘Currently, this land mass is being threatened by encroaching communities and individuals. We are sufficiently concerned about this especially as it can be a flashpoint of conflict between the University and communities and individuals’ he said.
Jimoh, who praised the state government and friends of the university for contributing to the successes that have been achieved, also noted that the institution looks forward to always receiving necessary supports.
The Vice-Chancellor, while congratulating the graduands also noted that they have been well positioned to be self-sustained and also equipped with outstanding education.
In another development, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Architect Sunny Echono has urged good maintenance culture at public institutions in the country and an end to the so-called ‘Nigerian culture’ in the management of public buildings.
He said this on Thursday while giving his speech after inaugurating three major infrastructure projects at KWASU which were financed by TETFUND; the senate building, Centre for Sustainable Energy Building and the Engineering Workshop Complex.
‘We are always delighted as an agency to be associated with developmental efforts that promote the growth of the university system.
This is particularly gratifying with the increase in the development of requisite infrastructure that aids learning, teaching, and research, as conspicuously evident on the KWASU landscape.
It is remarkable to note that TETFund’s interventions in KWASU commenced in 2010 and this privilege has been enjoyed till date.
From commencement, a total sum of N12,681,599,496.67 has been allocated for infrastructure-related interventions, cutting across the Annual, Special and Zonal interventions, amongst others.
So far, about 76.11% of these funds have already been accessed for the provision of requisite facilities in the university’ he submitted while commending the university for engaging competent professionals. .
‘I, therefore, wish to commend the management of the university for not only following the master plan layout but also ensuring the engagement of competent professionals for the design of the structures.
And also monitoring the delivery of the various intervention projects executed from inception, some of which we are assembled here to commission today.
I salute the Visitor, Kwara Governor, the University Council, the Senate, members of Staff and the various project teams for the support given in ensuring that the projects are successfully delivered.
The three projects to be commissioned today are those of the Special High Impact and Annual interventions.
The funds were allocated between 2015 and 2021, and completions were successfully achieved between 2021 and 2023.
The total projects cost is N1,521,710,506.96, all delivered successfully in line with the TETFund guidelines’ he said.
While urging public institutions in the country that are beneficiaries of the agency’s interventions to engage consultants that can bring out the best like KWASU has done, Sunny Echono, also disclosed that Governor AbdulRazaq has just secured some fresh ‘goodies’ for KWASU through TETFund which the the governor would be announcing in due course.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Professor Ishaq Oloyede , the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) , who had delivered the convocation lecture earlier in the day–Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
