Kaduna State University KASU has presented certificates of first and higher degrees to graduands who have been certified worthy in character and in learning as well as the conferment of doctorate degrees to some distinguished Nigerians of virtue.
Amongst them are the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, Mele Kyari with doctorate degree of public sector governance and Minister of Finance, Zainab Shamsuna with doctorate degree of administration.
The conferment of all classes of the degrees was done by the University Chancellor, former Emir of Kano State, Muhammadu Sanusi ll during the 4th combined convocation ceremony of the Kaduna State University in Kaduna.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the Finance Minister, Zainab Shamsuna thanked the Visitor of the University, Governor El-Rufai, the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, council of Deans and the Registrar for granting them with the awards.
“With deep humility, I want to appreciate on behalf of my colleagues the recognition that this award has given us and also to commit to be good representatives of this alma mater”, she said.
She mentioned that they are indeed happy to be associated with the Kaduna State University through the doctorate awards, one of the most acclaimed centres of learning in Nigeria.
According to her, they are proud to be associated also with the nation’s next generation of leaders who will be contributing to the society’s economic and political development.
“We are proud to be associated with the current generation of leaders whom have in the past been conferred with doctorate degrees by KASU. Some of them include: President Muhammadu Buhari, Architecture Namadi Sambo, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Honorable Rotimi Amechi and Senator Muhammed Makarfi just to mention a few for the recognition of the various works that they do as stakeholders in nation building”, she added.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Muhammad Tanko appreciated Governor Nasiru El-Rufai for his visionary leadership.
“Sir, I will like to inform you that we have keyed into your vision of producing graduates that will be skilled and therefore self-employed. We achieved it by introducing courses like biotechnology, geophysics and cyber security. We have also championed the development of benchmark for the National Universities Commission NUC in the area of logistics and supply chain management”, he said.
Staff training
Professor Tanko said the University has secured various trainings for staff that will enhance their capacity, amongst which are the University of California on-line training and the MOOC versions of bending the curve, Louisiana State University on on-line course delivery, and many other trainings that will help to shape the capacities of the staff of the University.
“The University, as of now has 12 faculties, two colleges, two schools, 61 postgraduate programmes, 35 undergraduate programmes, four research centres, two Institutes and a number of other academic support units.
“Furthermore, we have 70 full-time Professors and more than 200 PhD holders. Presently, the University offers PhDs in almost all the departments in the University, and Master of Philosophy for the students who do not have the requirements for admission into the PhD programmes”, he disclosed.
The VC also presented two departments that have successfully completed their course of study for the award of the PhD.
“I like to thank the Visitor to the University for supporting the institution to achieve this feat”, he said.
Nneka Ukachukwu