Sokoto State Governor Dr Ahmad Aliyu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education through sustained investment in infrastructure, staff welfare, research and academic excellence.
He also announced that graduates of Sokoto State University who earn first-class degrees will receive automatic employment in the state civil service.
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The governor made the announcement during the combined 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Convocation Ceremonies of the University.
He described education as a critical pillar of his administration’s Nine-Point Smart Innovative Agenda, stressing that no society could achieve sustainable development without investing in quality education and human capital.
According to him, the state government has continued to provide support to educational institutions through infrastructural development, staff capacity building, research support, improved learning facilities and regular financial intervention for higher, secondary and basic education institutions.
“The interventions include the clearance of salary arrears and allowances owed to visiting and sabbatical professors, partial payment of earned academic allowances, and payment of earned allowances to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities.
“Implementation of the 40 percent salary increase for academic staff in line with the Federal Government-ASUU agreement, renovation of staff quarters and construction of a modern sports complex”, he said.
He stated that the government would continue to initiate policies and programmes aimed at improving academic activities and enhancing the quality of education in all state-owned tertiary institutions.
Aliyu also called on development partners to collaborate with the state government in advancing higher education, research and innovation.
The governor urged the graduands to become worthy ambassadors of the university and Sokoto State by demonstrating integrity, diligence, patriotism and commitment to national development.
He also encouraged them to embrace entrepreneurship, technological innovation and community service, noting that education should go beyond securing employment to solving societal problems and creating opportunities.
The governor commended the university’s governing council, management, senate and staff for sustaining academic standards and expanding the institution’s teaching, research and community service.
Aliyu commended former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for establishing the university.
He described the institution as a visionary investment that has expanded access to higher education and created employment opportunities for thousands of people.
He further expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his people-oriented policies aimed at improving the socio-economic and political well-being of Nigerians.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isa Muhammad Maishanu, described the convocation as a celebration of excellence, resilience and the transformative power of education.
He congratulated the governing council, management, senate, staff, students, alumni and the entire university community for sustaining the vision upon which Sokoto State University was founded.
The Commissioner disclosed that approximately 6,000 students graduated across the university’s five faculties, comprising 779 graduates from the Faculty of Arts, 347 from the Faculty of Computing, 1,187 from the Faculty of Education, 1,886 from the Faculty of Science, and 1,377 from the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.
He further announced that 42 graduates earned First Class honours, including eight from the Faculty of Arts, six from the Faculty of Computing, seven from the Faculty of Education, 17 from the Faculty of Science and four from the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.
Also speaking, the vice-chancellor, Professor Mohammed Bello Yerima, highlighted the university’s remarkable growth since it commenced academic activities in 2011 with three pioneer faculties.
According to him, the institution now operates five faculties and has submitted proposals for 22 new academic programmes to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He explained that, upon approval, the programmes would expand the university’s academic structure to between eight and nine faculties, with new programmes in Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Medical Sciences and Law.
Professor Yarima appealed to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to approve the recruitment of additional qualified academic and non-academic staff to support the planned expansion.
He also expressed appreciation to the Governor for approving and releasing funds for the combined convocation within three days of the university’s request.
Delivering his Convocation Address, the Chancellor of Sokoto State University and the Emir of Dutse, Hameed Nuhu Sanusi, described the ceremony as one of the most significant milestones in the life of any university, noting that it symbolises the transformation of learning into leadership and education into service to humanity.
The Chancellor congratulated the graduating students and urged them to uphold integrity, discipline, professionalism and patriotism as worthy ambassadors of the university.
He reminded them that the award of a degree marks the beginning of lifelong learning and encouraged them to deploy the knowledge and skills they had acquired to address societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Chancellor commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his unwavering support for higher education and paid tribute to the Founder of the university, Senator Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, for his foresight in establishing the Institution.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees (Honoris Causa) on three distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their outstanding contributions to public service, leadership and national development.
The honorary doctorate recipients were the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo; former Governor of old Sokoto State, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim; and renowned businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Umar Ajiya.
