Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the establishment of the Al-Istiqama University in Kano is an endeavour that has huge potential to impact people in a significant and positive way.
Professor Osinbajo spoke on Wednesday while receiving on a courtesy call, delegation from the new university led by the founder, Honourable Suleiman A. Kawu Sumaila, a former member of the House of Representatives and later Presidential Liaison at the National Assembly.
Mentor Leaders
“This may be the most important thing you can do; you will impact a lot of people. God has given you this opportunity to do this,” Professor Osinbajo told the founder and others in the delegation, as they requested that the VP, being an accomplished academic himself, should mentor leaders of the new institution.
Expressing excitement about the prospects of the new university, which, according to the delegation, has registered close to 500 students permissible for the school already), the VP prayed that “you make this a unique opportunity, impact the students so much that they won’t just be the beneficiaries alone,” he said.
While noting the important assignment of (running) a university, the Vice President then urged the university management to pay attention to issues of funding, stating that “university funding is very expensive.”
Professor Osinbajo recalled his experience as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Redeemers University, Ede and also cited the establishment of Crescent University, Abeokuta, both of which are faith-based universities, emphasising the significance of funding to make the idea of a private university successful.
Respectful to each other
Att the meeting, the Vice President also urged Nigerians generally to continue to be respectful to each other. He added that “we must teach tolerance,” avoiding situations where people take hard positions such as could be divisive.
“We need to respect each other, it’s so important, ” Professor Osinbajo stressed while also admonishing that “the love of country is so important.”
The founder of the faith-based Al-Istiqama University, Honourable Sumaila, told the VP that he learnt a lot from him while serving as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House).
“You are a role model. We want to benefit from your experience as an academic,” he observed while disclosing that the university is located in a rural setting in Sumaila, about 80km from Kano.
He said 100 students in the University have already received scholarships from eminent philanthropists in Kano.
Among the Al-Istiqama University delegation were several academics, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor Salisu Shehu, a Professor of Educational Psychology, who was previously with the Department of Education, Bayero University, Kano.
Religious education
According to the University’s VC, “as a faith-based university, we share the world view that God is integral,” explaining that there is a need to bring back religious education. He also described the VP as “an accomplished academic, an accomplished leader, and we see you as a leader.”
The Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila (AUSU), is a privately-owned university in Kano State, Nigeria. It has been officially accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The mission of the University is to encourage global study, experiential learning and research, interdisciplinary scholarship, creativity and entrepreneurial endeavours with ultimate fear of Allah.
Lateefah Ibrahim
