By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
The Jigawa State-owned Sule Lamido University (SLU), Kafin Hausa is set to graduate a total of 4,109 during its second combined convocation ceremony on Saturday. The convocation covers about six academic sessions
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Yakasai while briefing reporters said the occasion would be the first since he assumed responsibility as the chief executive of the institution, describing the event as yet another significant milestone in the growth and development of the University as it celebrated academic excellence.
“At this Convocation, the University is graduating a total of 4,109 students across academic sessions adding that out of which 154 graduated with first class honours,1,326 second class upper division, 1,954 second class lower division, 649 third classes and 26 got pass degrees “, he said.
According to him, the University had recorded notable progress in expanding the academic programmes including the introduction of Post graduate studies, restructuring of school of preliminary studies (SPS), to school of preliminary and continuing Education (SPACE) and ongoing preparation of the takeoff of the collage of Medicine.
He attributed the steady progress being recorded by the institution, especially in infrastructure development to the commitment of the state governor Umar Namadi, citing among others a three block of 408 hostels for students being constructed at the instance of the governor who is the Visitor to the institution.
Apart from the support of the state government, Yakasai also acknowledged support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFund) interventions, other federal agencies, internally generated revenues as well as other development partners.
He described the major challenges facing the institution as staffing, noting that with the growing population of students population, there was the need to increase the proportional staffing to meet such demands.
For instance, he said out of the staff population of 9000 staff, only 600 were academic staff, a situation he described as grossly inadequate and needed to be improved upon.
He said over 2000 students were currently benefitting from the Federal Government funded Students’ Loans Scheme (NELFUND) which he described as a unique policy of easing the burden of education especially for the in less of privileged iin the society.
