The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, said with the establishment of the University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State, 60 percent of the problems plaguing Southern Kaduna would be resolved.
Kukah stated this during the inauguration of the governing council and principal officers of the university by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, in Abuja on Friday.
Kukah, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the pro–chancellor of the university, expressed optimism about the future, assuring that the university will provide tools to address the region’s challenges.
According to Kukah, despite the region’s challenges, Southern Kaduna remains one of the most educated parts of Northern Nigeria, boasting over 200 professors.
He attributed this feat to the education provided by missionaries, which has brought significant progress to the area.
The bishop also acknowledged Nigeria’s greatest challenge as the instrumentalization of religion, which has led to troubles in the region.
“Those who have no love for the faith itself, but wish to use it as instruments of other things. The result is that our region in particular still remains a very troubled part of Nigeria. It is our hope that from the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Einstein’s who are working on the streets of Northern Nigeria as at Nigeria’s today, God will bless them where they will change our country,” he said.
He expressed hope that the university will produce innovative minds to transform the country.
Kukah also expressed his gratitude to the president, vice president , and others involved in the university’s establishment, assuring that the council will remain committed to their vision.
“I want to assure you that by locating this university of applied science, you have presented tools to us. And I want to assure you that we will do everything that is humanly possible. You won’t be disappointed, Mr. President. We will be committed, we will be dedicated to his vision.” he said.
Earlier while speaking, the Minister of Education, stated that the university is “not a typical university” and that it’s “starting on a very, very good note, on a well-laid footing” with nice infrastructures, nice facilities and expansive land.
He emphasised the importance of the university’s location in Southern Kaduna, stating that it’s a deliberate move by the President to stimulate development in the region.
The Minister directed the university’s management to commence academic activities by September and assured them of the Ministry’s full support.
“You’re not starting with a take-up grant. The President, the Vice-President and every other person that have worked behind the scenes have ensured that you have a budget that has been appropriated in this 2025 budget. You have a robust personnel budget that has been appropriated, robust overhead costs as well as your capital budget,” he said.
He also urged the vice-chancellor to establish a college of medicine, citing the need to address the country’s manpower gap in the medical profession.
The minister acknowledged the contributions of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other stakeholders who worked behind the scenes to ensure the university’s establishment.
Alausa emphasised the importance of education in driving national development and highlighted the Ministry’s six-point agenda, which includes expanding technical and vocational education, improving STEM education, and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Also speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, promised to ensure that the university strives in a peaceful environment.
“Bringing peace in our country is not only the kinetic effort, it’s the non-kinetic, which is about 70 percent. And it is, I’m sure, like our Chairman mentioned, that the university will bring peace to Southern Kaduna,” he said.
On his part, a senator representing Kaduna South, who had sponsored the bill for the establishment of the university, Sunday Marshall Katung, thanked the president, minister, Kaduna State governor, and other stakeholders for their roles in actualizing the goal of a university in Southern Kaduna.
The highlight of the of the occasion was the handing of the appointment letters to the principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as university Librarian.
Bishop Kukah: New University Will Eliminate 60% Of Southern Kaduna’s Problems is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
