By Correspondent in Kontagora.
Delegation of the Emir of Kontagora,led by Alhaji Yusuf Ubandoma (righ) at the occasion.
Praises being rained on President Muhammadu Buhari by indigenes of Niger state for assenting to the bill upgrading the Federal College of Educatuon FCE, Kontagora to University on Monday, reached the highest point with Alhaji Muazu Barau, 11, Emir of Kontagora commending the president for the effort.
The Provost,FCE, Kontagora,Prof. Rashid Haruna, addressing the delegation during the visit.
Our Correspondent recalls that Buhari assented to the bill sponsored by the Senator Representing Niger North, Aliyu Abdullahi.
With the president’s assent repealed the law establishing Federal College of Education Kontagora and upgraded it to the status of a university.
The Emir who gave the commendation through Alhaji Yusuf Ubandoma, during a congratulatory/solidarity visit to the Provost of Federal University, Prof. Rashid Haruna in Kontagora, added that the upgrading would add tremendous educational value to the development of Northern Nigeria and the country at large.
The traditional ruler explained that the creation of the university would further resolve shortage of well-trained teachers and boost manpower for effective management of schools across the region.
The Emir said:”We are all excited with the emergence of another tertiary institution in Niger state, following the signing into law of the bill for the upgrading of the Federal College of Education,Kontagora into a University of Education by President Buhari.
“This is another cheering news for the government and people of Niger state, this is what we have been praying for and God has answered our prayers.
The Emir also the provost that the people in Zone C of the state; comprising Kontagora and Burgu Emirates, would for ever be grateful to Mr President for being bold enough to sign the bill into law .
“We equally appreciate the useful contribution of Sen.Aliyu Abdullahi for his doggedness in pursuing the bill and lobbying his colleagues.
“All Federal legislators from Niger state, the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate,President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and all legislators for the various roles they played in ensuring that the law was passed and sent to the president for his assent.
“We in the Emirates assure the public that all necessary support would be given to the federal government to ensure that the university takes off.
“So far, the infrastructure available is good enough to provide smooth academic ground for the take off of our newly established university.
“We are ready to support and encourage our Provost and his management team for the effort they did in providing physical structures for the smooth take up of the institution.
“We the traditional rulers from the two emirate will continue to pray for God’s intervention, for smooth take of the university as well as ensuring peace, progress and political stability of our country ”
Earlier while receiving the delegation, Prof. Rashid Haruna expressed delight with Emir of Kontagora and Borgu Emirates for taking time to appreciate the institution’s smooth take off .
“Mr President has done everything for the good people of kontagora and indeed, the zone C, for setting up the university in Kontagora,” he noted..
The provost said that required physical infrastructure had been put in place to serve various heads of departments for the smooth running of the institution.
“We have well trained manpower with various educational backgrounds to manage all academic programmes of our newly established university.
“I want to assure the good people of the two Emirates that job opportunities will be created for both junior and senior staffers .
“We will liaise with National Universities Commission(NUC) to ensure that more academic courses are approved as we have all the required facilities for the smooth conduct of learning.
” We are currently having 164 indigenes under the scholarship of Hon.Abdullahi Idris Garba, a member of the House of Representatives, for science students.
“The lawmaker has also sunk boreholes, execution of 240 solar street lights and renovation of secondary schools as well as several other projects.
“We will reach out to cooperate organisations to complement the effort of the institution in providing more basic infrastructure for the overall development of our institution”,he said.
The Reporters gathered that FCE, Kontagora was established in September 1978 as Federal Advanced Teachers College and upgraded to College of Education in 1987.
