The first chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has been installed. He is Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, the Emir of Kazaure in Jigawa State and was born in February 1956.
Adamu is also a lawyer from the Rumfa College Kano and the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria with records of public service as deputy director, legal services of the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF).
The installation of Adamu as first chancellor of the 34th Nigerian University, AKSU, was performed by the visitor to the institution and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio at the university main campus, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Thursday.
In expression of the delight on the actualization of the state government’s dreams for the university, the installation of the chancellor was graced by a cross section of the university host communities.
They ranged from public opinion holders, government functionaries, business magnets, women leaders, youths, students and children.
Others who were at the event were members of the traditional rulers council from the neighboring local government areas as well as administrators of academic institutions from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Addressing the people soon after the pledge on the chancellor, Gov. Godswill Akpabio said the bold steps of His administration to go further with the development of the university was all about the future of Akwa Ibom children in dire need of academic opportunities.
The governor stated that in building a sound foundation of the institution, the momentum of development will not stop in 2015, hoping that an education friendly leader would emerge at the end of the present administration.
The governor recalled that it was a big challenge for most indigenes of the state to secure admissions in universities, noting that the challenge formed part of the treasons for the setting up of the university.
Akpabio remarked that the interest in establishing the university was also borne out of the framework of preparing for products of the free and compulsory education scheme currently going on at the primary and post primary schools levels in the state.
The governor stated that his administration was considering the need to establish the third campus of the university at Oron to truly make it a multi-faceted campus institution with courses in sciences, technology and management.
Akpabio, while hoping on the Federal Government to expedite action in the proposed Maritime University, noted that it would assist AKSU in manpower as well as equipment for courses in related disciplines.
Commending the staff and the host communities for their efforts and cooperation to the university, Akpabio restated the determination of the present administration to providing facilities to accommodate expected strength of 800 students by the directives of the National Universities commission (NUC).
Describing the university as a price of educational investment, Akpabio hoped that the chancellor would link it and Akwa Ibom with partners over the world, saying the choice of Adamu was a wise decision.
The chairman, governing council of AKSU, Dr. Okon Eminue, said the installation must be seen as a positive signal to prepare the university to be counted among state-owned universities in the country.
Eminue, an associate professor, expressed delight at the installation of a celebrated lawyer with experiences in the corporate world and in national affairs as the first chancellor of the institution.
He explained that Adamu was already conversant with Akwa Ibom people, environment and challenges in addition to admirable track record of successful mentoring of other institutions of higher learning in the country.
The Vice-Chancellor of AKSU, Professor Sunday Petters, said it was the desire of the university to emerge as key driver for sustainable socio-economic transformation of the state and the nation.
Petters state that it has taken full attention in the absorption of the academic programmes, staff and students of the former Akwa Ibom College of Agriculture, thanking the state government for ensuring a smooth transition of the college into a university.
The chancellor, Adamu said his choice was accepted with tremendous delight and deep sense of humility, thanking Akpabio for finding him worthy for the appointment.
The chancellor pledged to be part of the history of the university with potentials of discharging its responsibilities at the vibrant age, assuring that the university would establish its credibility in realizing dreams.
He stated that his choice for the seat of chancellor was an expression of solidarity between Kazaure and Akwa Ibom, calling for relevant reforms in the educational sector of the country.
The chancellor promised to share ideas and experiences for the growth of the university to enhance mutual understanding, cooperation and progress of people.
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