Ado Salisu
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has described education as a moral imperative for empowering young people and building a prosperous future for the state.
The Governor stated this at the opening of a colloquium and conference organised by Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano, in honour of Professor Haruna Musa, the 12th substantive Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano (BUK).
Governor Yusuf, represented by the Head of the Kano State Civil Service, Hajia Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, said his administration was focused on addressing gaps in educational provision and ensuring greater access to quality education.
He described the colloquium as a well-deserved honour for Professor Musa, considering his contributions to academia and educational administration.
The Governor said a robust and accessible education system remained central to socio-economic development, stressing the importance of sustained collaboration between government and stakeholders, particularly private educational institutions.
He commended KHAIRUN for its commitment to quality education, especially the recent upgrade of 32 laboratories with modern facilities to provide students with practical skills.
According to him, partnerships between government and educational institutions are essential to developing the human capital needed for sustainable development.
Governor Yusuf urged participants at the colloquium to engage in meaningful discussions on education, leadership and societal development, and produce recommendations capable of contributing to the advancement of the sector.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of KHAIRUN, Professor Abdulrashid Garba, said the colloquium, themed “Transformative Science and Technology Education for Sustainable Development,” was organised to mark Professor Haruna Musa’s first year as Vice Chancellor of BUK.
Professor Garba said Professor Musa had made significant contributions to education and development not only in BUK but also in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, the northern region and Nigeria as a whole.
He explained that the conference preceding the colloquium provided a platform for scholars, researchers and students to present research findings and deliberate on the role of transformative science and technology education in achieving sustainable development.
He said universities have a critical role in producing informed and responsible citizens, as well as generating research and policy solutions to contemporary challenges.
In his remarks, Professor Haruna Musa expressed appreciation to KHAIRUN for the honour, saying he accepted it not only as a personal tribute but also on behalf of the staff, students and alumni of BUK and colleagues across the university system.
He urged participants to ensure that their deliberations produced practical recommendations and a communique capable of advancing the objectives of the conference.
In his keynote address, Chief Anibe Achimugu of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria highlighted the importance of technology education in driving socio-economic development.
The event also featured presentations by Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu and Alhaji Abba Danguguwa.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee and Chief Librarian of KHAIRUN, Alhaji Nazir Muhammad, thanked participants and stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the opening ceremony and appealed for continued support for the conference.
The event was attended by former and serving vice chancellors of public and private universities within and outside Kano State, among other dignitaries.