Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state , Northwest Nigeria, has reiterated his Administration’s determination in prioritising skills acquisition by the people for sustainable growth and national development .
This will also allow the society move with the changing world
The Governor made this observation at the Kano State Polytechnic 7th Combined Convocation Ceremony, held on, Saturday, urging students to always understand the relevance and importance of skills acquisition for self esteem and societal development.
Reminding people about what led to the establishment of the Ultra Modern Skills Acquisition Centre by the state, that was named after Alhaji Aliko Dangote, he said “We had gap analysis study to know what our society needs in terms of moulding our people around skills-based society, when we came up with more than 20 different types of trades that we thought our people lack proper skills in. Then came the Skills Acquisition Centre.”
It is the Centre, he said, that would encourage people to use their brain for hands-on utilisation of the vast potentialites people can boast of, “Looking at the large size of our population, we understand that something concrete should be done, to avoid having a population that is a liability. We want our population to be an asset not a liability, anyway,” he cautioned.
That, strategy, he said, was done to first and foremost address the issue of existing gap between what exists between population and development, in the absence of acquired skills and innovation.
“It is because of the importance we attach to this effort that is why we spent billions of Naira in establishing the Centre. It is completed only waiting for commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari, who personally wishes to commission the Centre,” he reveals.
Governor Ganduje commended the Polytechnic for remaining to be a peaceful academic environment for many years, since his coming to the mantle of leadership in the state. “Let me use this great opportunity and commend the Governing Council, management, staff, both academic and non-academic, and the students for keeping the institution peaceful”, he said.
Noting that the 7th Convocation came after close to two decades or more, the Governor then urged the Governing Council and management of the institution to make sure that they return to drawing board and make sure that Convocation ceremonies, henceforth be observed in accordance with the rules governing the Polytechnic.
“If you have any issue come to me, I will be ready to assist. You can always knock on my doors. Let Convocation comes at the appropriate time as puts by the Law establishing the Polytechnic. I will not drop the microphone without thanking the Board, management and staff for making this possible,” he encourages.
The Governor reiterated his commitment and unrelenting determination over ban of street begging and assured that all Almajiri schools must be integrated into the state free and compulsory education policy. Adding that Kano must have a quality population.
In his address the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa, appreciated the style of quality leadership the state governor has been displaying for genuine development of the institution, that “Your Excellency, with your quality and exemplary leadership this Polytechnic goes to higher level, even among its sister Polytechnics across the country.”
Disclosing that part of the major reasons why the institution excels was “…the timely intervention of His Excellency the Governor. Whenever we go cap in hand, the Governor is always ready to come to our rescue. We now have regular academic calendar, courtesy His Excellency’s political will and commitment.”
Prof. Kurawa listed many achievements they were able to record within the years of his (Rector) stewardship to date in many areas like, infrastructural development, academic performance, staff welfare for both academic and non academic ones, undisruptive academic calendar,among others.
The Rector praised the Governor for making it possible to have the 7th Combined Convocation during his tenure, emphasising that, “Your Excellency, there is no gainsaying the fact that, your special concern for education is what takes us to higher level. We are appreciative of this Sir.”
Before the Convocation ceremony the governor commissioned a Micro Finance Bank situated in the premises of the Polytechnic. and inspected a building that was gutted by fire outbreak.
