Governor Abdullahi Sule has said his dream is to turn the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) faculty of engineering in Gudi into a full fledged state owned university of engineering.
Governor Sule made this known shortly after inaugurating and witnessing the matriculation of pioneer students of the NSUK faculty of engineering in Gudi, his country home, on Tuesday.
The Governor added that, his administration will work towards ensuring the establishment of three new engineering departments under the faculty namely agricultural engineering, mining engineering and petroleum engineering before the end of his tenure.
“My ultimate dream is to come as a visiting lecturer, a retired governor to this same university now no longer a faculty of engineering but a university of engineering in Nasarawa State,” he stated.
He described the event as a dream come true, especially that his desire was to draw from his vast experience of engineering, and to contribute to the growth and development of the profession in Nasarawa State.
“When I was growing up all I wanted to do is to be an engineer in my life. After acquiring all the experiences that I have had, I wanted one day to come and contribute the little I know about engineering in Nasarawa State. I have no idea that one day there is going to be a faculty of engineering in Gudi,” Governor Sule said.
He used the opportunity to appreciate his immediate past predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura for donating the structure to NSUK, and former executive secretary of the TETFUND, Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, for approving the high impact project which saw to the construction of workshops at the faculty of engineering.
While delivering the inaugural lecture titled “Engineering: The Future for Sustainable Infrastructural Development”, Governor Sule identified engineers as problem solvers and innovators, with engineering being a course that has to do with creating practical solutions.
He pointed out that engineering has played vital role in ensuring positive changes, innovations and inventions which has made life better, and more comfortable for humanity.
“Today, I have been asked to look ahead into the future and predict how the field and study of engineering can inspire the type of innovations that can create sustainable infrastructural development in the society.
“We are here to think about the future and our role and how we deploy engineering solutions to make the world a better place beginning from our immediate environment which for us is Nasarawa State,” he stated.
The Governor took out time to congratulate the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, for transforming NSUK into a leading light for academic excellence, with the institution now expanding to cover fields of studies in agriculture, science, ICT and presently, a brand new faculty of engineering located in no other place than in Gudi, his country home.
Chairman of the occasion and former governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, lauded his successor for transforming the project he initiated as a school for persons with disabilities into a faculty of engineering.
” This idea is pragmatic, is innovative and this is what we want leaders to do. By bringing about ideas, and vision that can translate into practical benefit to the people of the state. I am so happy that the engineering program that was lacking in NSUK has been found,” he said.
Senator Al-makura used the opportunity to congratulate Governor Sule, the visitor to the university, for leaving no stone unturned towards adding value to development in the state.
He equally congratulated the Vice Chancellor and his management team for giving NSUK a face lift and transforming the institution into a model.
In his address, Chief Host for the event and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, disclosed that a total of 109 students comprising of 58 civil engineering students, 44 electrical engineering and 7 chemical engineering students took their oath of matriculation.
Professor thanked former governor Al-makura for donating the structure that was later converted to the faculty of engineering and Governor Sule for changing the narrative at the NSUK.
He particularly commended Governor Sule for his support and commitment for the establishment of the faculty of engineering, especially the N20m he personally donated in support of the project, as well the support he gave towards restructuring the school into a faculty of engineering.
“This visitor that we have has changed the narrative in NSUK. For 13 years, we have been battling with how to pay salaries. And the university has been in arrears of staff claims and allowances. But His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule took up the challenge and said he was going to take over the entire salary of the university.
“And I made a commitment to him, that if you take over the salary of the university, we will set up a template for the payment of liabilities and we will ensure that all the organs of the university are developing. Your Excellency, I want to tell you that by this singular act that you have done, I can speak on behalf of the entire staff of the university and say that they are fully appreciative of what you have done. Today, in NSUK we have industrial harmony, we have peace among all the staff unions on campus. Your benevolence has also affected the students,” he said.
The VC however appealed to the Governor to deliver his earlier promise to construct additional 4.5km internal road networks within the main campus of the university.
Earlier, in a welcome address, Professor Emmanuel Kucha, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, identified teething challenges that needed to be addressed for the faculty to run smoothly.
