Matawalle
State
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