A SPEECH DELIVERED BY GOV. FINTIRI AT THE ADSU MUBI 14TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY. ON DECEMBER 13TH, 2022

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋

• Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Chief Crowther Seth;

• Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of House of Representatives from Adamawa State,

• The Chancellor, His Royal Highness, Alh. Muhammad Seyoji Ahmed, the Emir of Pindiga,

• Our distinguished Awardee- Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro,

• The Speaker and Honourable Members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly,

• The Secretary to the State Government,

• The Chief of Staff,

• Hon. Commissioners and other officers of the Government of Adamawa State,

• Members of the Governing Council,

• The Vice Chancellor,

• Deputy Vice Chancellors,

• Principal Officers of the University,

• Staff and Students of Adamawa State University, Mubi,

• The Graduands,

• Parents and Well-wishers,

• Gentlemen of the Press,

• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by welcoming all of you to this occasion at which another batch of our graduands are going to be awarded their degree certificates after their arduous studies in our noble institution. Adamawa State University, Mubi, has consistently maintained the culture of molding graduands in both character and learning in order to release them into the society as building blocks for national development.

I therefore warmly congratulate the graduands on these worthy accomplishments. I truly wish you the best of luck as you walk into a bright, promising and fulfilling future.

A University as the name connotesis a universal community, where the thought processes and activities of those who successfully pass through its four walls, irrespective of their areas of studies are shaped by facts and reality with a view to contributing their quota for the good of the society.

The Adamawa State University is by no means an exception.

About two years ago, we were gathered here for the 5th to 13th convocation ceremony of our graduates which was graced by prominent dignitaries from within and outside the State. At the occasion, two prominent citizens were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degree.

Thus, the duo of His Excellency, Boni Haruna the former Governor of Adamawa State who actualized the idea of establishing a University for the State and the Emir of Pindiga, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed Seyoji who was installed as the Chancellor.

Adamawa State University, continues to occupy a pride of place in the heart of every patriotic citizen of Adamawa State.

As an administration, my government is very proud to be associated with its growth and developments over the years. With an interesting story, the University has survived and soured.

From an obscure idea greeted by a heap of doubts mounted by skeptics, which was housed by the former Teachers College, Mubi to buzzing institution which has metamorphosed into a hatchery of great minds that are trailing the blaze in the development of Adamawa State and the Nation.

I must, as always continue to pay glowing tributes to the University visioners, pioneer staff and management of the University and even the students for their commitments and sacrifices in the writing of this beautiful story.

I am particularly enthralled by the interesting and laudable development at theSahuda Road Campus of the University where this ceremony is taking place today.

ALSO READ: Wizkid disappoints Ghanaians, fails to show up at live concert. See reasons

May I use this opportunity to congratulate the entire University and the good people of Adamawa State for this landmark achievement, and to encourage them to put all hands-on deck until all the developments in the University’s Master plan are achieved or put in place.

I must also commend the University for upholding the culture of academic prowess through diligent research and teaching. I am particularly happy to note that there is commensurate reward for hard work in the university.

The environment is calm and motivating; the scholars are intellectually committed to their calls. This serene atmosphere is greatly responsible for the recent strides in career growth that saw the University producing additional12Professors and 9 Associate Professors. This, no doubt, will enhance the quality of teaching and learning in the institution.

May I therefore congratulate the newly promoted Professors and request them not to relent having achieved the zenith of their careers but to use their new status and qualifications to raise the bar in their service to the global community of academics and to humanity at large.

In this regard, I urge them to engage in ground breaking research and innovations that will place the university on global map. This will enable us to create a knowledge driven economy as a panacea to our societal problems.

Recall that at the last convocation ceremony, I conversed for a number of issues notable among which was the need for a rapid upsurge in research activities especially market-oriented research with its vast potentials for enhancing revenue generation, institutional visibility and community service. In addition, I had endowed a Professorial Chair that will be largely research-based.

The theme of this convocation lecture "Revamping Insurgency Ravaged Economies: The Potential of the Livestock Sector in Adamawa State," is indeed a veritable ground for intense research, since agriculture employ over 70 percent of our citizens in production, processing, storage and marketing activities.

Viable research findings, in this sector will impact a good number of our citizens in the struggle to achieve food security and enhanced living standard.

While noting that the long-drawn strike that crippled the university system nationwide has disrupted both on-going and new research, we must waste no time in resuming them. During this period, the Federal Government of Nigeria invoked the “No Work, No Pay”, but we have maintained salary payment despite the fact that the Adamawa State University Staff were on strike.

I urge all the staff to reciprocate this gesture by working harder than ever before for the betterment of the education system in the State.

In the area of financing, the University system continuous to be a resource intensive venture competing for the lean resource of government with other critical services.

The infrastructure up-scaling drive of our government which is a critical component of the programmes for which we were voted into power also continuous to put an enormous strain on our resources.

We are however glad that this is paying off as evidenced by the recent selection and recognition of the state as one of those with the fastest rate of infrastructural development by Mr. President, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd).

In addition, the continuous decline in oil revenues, the state receives less allocation from the centre. This implies that the University must continue to innovate meaningfully in the area of cost reduction and enhanced internal revenue generation.

I call upon the University Council and Management to rise to the occasion and key into the various areas I had suggested during the last convocation.

Government on its part will continue to bend over backwards to provide as much of your financial requirements as possible within the limits of our lean resources. This indeed is more than assurance.

A word for our graduands of the day. As you continue in your journey of life, and equipped this time by your well-earned University degrees, I entreat you to add resilience to your armor.

In addition, you should seize every opportunity that comes your way to prepare you better for further challenges. You must also strive to be constantly in touch with developments around you in order to identify those that will benefit you in life.

This indeed is the time to go beyond dreams; it is the time to act. Ditch the dream and be a doer, not a dreamer.

As an administration, we shall continue to accord education a priority in the State. Our schools must remain safe for learning and research.

We have made education tuition free and made payment of WAEC and NECO an obligation. Considering the economic situation in the country which has been worsened by the effects of COVID-19 on the households,

I want to announce an upward review of the annual bursaries popularly known as “scholarship” for our indigent student with 50%. I have directed the Scholarship Board to carry out the review with immediate effect.

Chancellor, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, once again I congratulate the graduants and more fundamentally, recipient of the University’s Doctoral award Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro who has done so much for the University, the nation’s tertiary education and indeed the entire country. There is certainly no one worthy of this award at this time and on this campus today than Professor Bogoro. Congratulations Sir.

Finally, I wish to thank each and every one of you here today who have made up time to come to grace this occasion and felicitate with the graduands on this occasion and wish you journey mercies to your various destinations.

Thank you and God bless you all.