Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shetima says the provision of centres of academic excellence in Nigerian Universities will propel the country’s fortunes aimed at producing some of the world’s best intellectuals, innovators, and scientists.
VP Shetima made this known at the Commissioning of 15 Billion Naira Bayero University Kano BUK Centre of Excellence Complex constructed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in Kano, North West Nigeria.
The first five-story building consists of 190 accommodation rooms while the second five-story building comprises Departments, two theatre halls, food court, and a state-of-the-art e-library.
The Vice President, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, in the office of the Vice President, Dr. Tope Fashua noted that the position of Bayero University, Kano, which is now a centre of academic excellence in Nigeria and even globally, producing some of the world’s best intellectuals.
He said; “the continuous achievement and progress of the institution “is reminiscent of the legacy of the great city of Kano itself – known among its people as ‘Tumbin Giwa’ the belly of an elephant – where any and everything could be found, and where everybody finds their place and purchase.”
The Vice President appreciated the support of the Apex Bank in the Education sector.
He said; “Gratitude should be extended to the Central Bank of Nigeria, for this initiative, and cognisance must be made of these kinds of interventions that add to the positive metamorphosis of our nation, and especially our educational sector.”
VP Shetima said “the Nation had passed through dire straits in the last 17 years since the onset of the global financial crisis that saw the demise of large financial institutions like Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and hundreds of others between 2008 and 2012.”
“This era also set Nigeria’s banking sector back considerably even though we managed to avert the worst consequences,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano BUK Professor Sagir Abbas said the two projects would play a vital role in enhancing Academic Excellence at the University.
Abbas said; “These two important buildings are important to the University because an academic environment like this is supposed to have something like this which will certainly improve the quality of teaching and learning in the University and it would reduce the burden of shuttling around from hotels to the academic environment for academic activities. “
Professor Abbas applauded the efforts of the Nigerian government and the Central Bank of Nigeria for constructing and handing over the two projects.
The Vice President representative took time to inspect the physical of the two projects.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
