Bagudu, Dr. Zainab laud Sokoto State Varsity for posthumous degree award to late Marafan Sokoto
Bagudu, Dr. Zainab laud Sokoto State Varsity for posthumous degree award to late Marafan Sokoto.
Press Release.
The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has commended the Sokoto State University for the conferment of Posthumous Honorary Degree to late Marafan Sokoto, Alhaji Umaru Ali Shinkafi.
Bagudu made the commendation at the convocation ceremony of Sokoto State University, on Saturday when the institution successfully graduated no fewer than 1473 students, out of which thirty six had First Class Degrees .
The University held its Maiden Combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd Convocation Ceremony, on Saturday, for the 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 Academic Sessions .
He said that,the gesture was not in anyway miscplaced as the late Marafan Sokoto was an epitome of humility, scholarship, piety and patriotism.
” Let me join her excellency on behalf of Marafan Sokoto family in thanking the University and the visitor, the governor of Sokoto State, Rt Hon Aminu Tambuwal for the magnanimous recognition and award of the Posthumous degree to late Marafan Sokoto, Alhaji Ali Shinkafi”, he said.
Bagudu noted that, the University has proven its mettle ,, saying, ” I am hereby directing the State Ministry of Higher Education, to liaise with the Management of the Institution and brainstorm on how Kebbi State Government can advance more support to it.”
Responding shortly after receiving the Honorary Degree on behalf of her late Father, Alhaji Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi, his daughter, Dr. Zainab Bagudu Shinkafi, the wife of Kebbi State Governor said that, the deceased was a firm believer of the desire to fully develop Nigeria.
‘ Marafa is a firm believer in the power of education to transform the development of our dear nation’, she averred.
Accoridng to her, he was also committed to the educational development of Nigeria, especially the education of the girl child .
Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu announced the endowment of a N5 million naira to the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies of the University, under the Umaru Shinkafi Education Endowment Foundation.
The Wife of the Kebbi State Governor also announced a N250,000, Prize for the best graduating student in Arabic and Islamic studies, Political Science , as well as N 250,000, Prize,each, for the best female graduating student in Basic Sciences and Microbiology in order to promote girl child education as well as to develop Science engineering technology and medicine.
Dr.Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu on behalf of the entire family of late Marafan Sokoto, expressed gratitude to University of Sokoto for the honor bestowed on her late father ‘ We are humbled and delighted beyond words for the award to late Marafan Sokoto’, she said.
Speaking at the event, the Visitor to the University, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said that,the day provided an opportunity for the celebration of academic excellence.
Tambuwal expressed delight with the acceptance of Vice President,Professor Yemi Osinbajo,to personally deliver Convocation Lecture of the Institution.
The Sokoto State Governor said:” Education remains the pivotal sector of Sokoto State Government, to achieve the desired level of development of the state in the political, economic, Scientific and Technological spheres .
” From 2015 to date, the sector has been getting the largest shares of the annual budgets of the state and we will sustain this happy tempo.”
Accoridng to Tambuwal, his administration will ensure the adequate funding of education , at all levels.
He announced the renaming of the Senate Building after the late Marafan Sokoto , Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, the former Pro-Chancellor, as well as renaming the Library after his late predecessor, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, Magatakarda Babba.
Tambuwal commended the former Governor of the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko,for his foresight and vision in establishing the University.
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The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, thanked Wamakko for establishing the University,just as he lauded Tambuwal for sustaining it to its present enviable position.
The Sultan also appealed to the Management of the Institution,to among other things, set up the Faculty of Sokoto Caliphate Studies, to broaden the study of the myriad of literature written by the Founders of the Sokoto Caliphate,over 200 years ago.
He also commended the university for the Posthumous award of honorary degree to late Marafan Sokoto, Alhaji Umaru Ali Shinkafi.
The Chancellor, Dr Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, Emir of Dutse, said, ” I must congratulate Your Excellency for investing handsome resources in the educational future of your people.
” The good people of Sokoto State are well assured that, contemporary and future generations stand to benefit from your vision, dreams and commitments in availing great educational opportunities to our youth .”
The Pro-Chancellor, Engineer Bello Suleiman , lauded Sokoto State Governor for sustaining the adequate funding of the University, averring,” he has shown extreme passion to ensure the successful conduct of its academic activities’.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, was invested as the Pioneer Chancellor of the University, while he was also conferred with an Honorary Degree of Letters ( D. Litt.).
In the same vein, the pioneer Pro-Chancellor of the University,the late Marafan Sokoto,Alhaji Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi, was also conferred with a posthumous Honorary Degree of Law(LL.D).
Similarly,the Iconic Business Mogul, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabi”u, Chairman of BUA Group, was also conferred with the Honorary Degree of Science ( D. Sc.) by the University.
Also responding on behalf of the BUA Group Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Direcror, Engineer Yusuf Binji,said,” I am proud to have received the Degree on behalf of my Chairman.
” He is committed to the bolstering of educational development of Sokoto State and he has a renewed zeal, to contribute to the construction of the proposed Faculty of ICT.
” This will help in greatly bridging the infrastructural deficit in the Institution. I am also commending Gov. Tambuwal and the good people of Sokoto State for being grateful hosts.
” I must also acknowledge the sustained support and tremendous goodwill of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, towards the BUA Group.”
The governor was accompanied by Chief of Staff Government House Birinin Kebbi, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu (Jarman Kabi) and Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Hon. Hayatu Bawa.
Signed
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor
14/3/2021
