Zamfara Gov Builds N400m NOUN Study, Sponsors 200 Students
Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has directed for the construction of a N400 million National Open University Study Center in Gusau, just as he pledged to sponsor an initial 200 students into the University.
He gave this directive when he paid a working visit to the National Headquarters of the University in Abuja today. Governor Matawalle said his decision to take this bold step is born out of his desire to fast track the development od education in the state, pointing out that his administration is committed to building a virile youth for the future prosperity of the state.
“I am convinced that NOUN is the right institution to assist in that direction because it is not hindered by bottlenecks peculiar to tertiary education system in this country”, Matawalle observed. He said that the Government will continue to sponsor students into the University as it has proven itself as a viable avenue of obtaining quality education without hurdles in the country.
“since my assumption of office, I have sponsored 200 qualified students abroad to study critical areas of medical and technology courses where the state is in dire need”, Matawalle reveled. He said that his administration’s commitment to transform the educational sector in the state informed the provision of the highest allocation to the sector in the 2020 appropriation Bill.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdallah Uba Abdullahi who received the Governor in his office said the University based its programmes online where students acquire admission, register, study and even conduct their examination online.
“Your Excellency, as at today, we have completed our first semester examination despite lock down arising from the pandemic of covid-19 because the bullk of our business is conducted online” Professor Abdallah revealed .
He said the Northern part of the country is extremely lagging behind regarding its participation in the golden opportunity provided by the University to have effective, quality, cheap and hitch-free education.
“As at today, the whole of the three geopolitical zones on the Northern hemisphere of the country have only 17,000 students compared to South Western state which, alone, has 37,000 students. Of the over 400 Lecturers we interviewed for employment recently, only nine applied from the North”, lamented.
“hence, the Northern Governors need need to work hard to ensure that their indigenes participate in this national opportunity”, Professor Abdallah advised. He commended Governor Bello Mohammed for being the only Governor who personally visited the University.
Zailani Bappa
Special Adviser
Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications.
13/8/2020
