Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has promised to provide support to Phoenix University, Agwada, an indigenous private university in the State in order to enable it develop into a globally recognised tertiary institution.
Sule made the promise on Monday at the first matriculation ceremony of the university as well as the award of honorary degrees and the investiture of Nigerian businessman Dr Muhammadu Indimi as the institution’s first chancellor in Kokona Local Government Area (LGA) in the State.
According to him, his administration has already provided scholarships to 92 indigenous students, completed the Kokona Junction-Agwada road that leads to the university and will keep helping the institution reach its objectives.
The governor said that the state has decided to continue supporting the university’s growth to become a top-tier tertiary institution in the country because the establishment and start of academic activities there represents another significant milestone.
“Nasarawa state is not one of the wealthiest states. So for us to have given the scholarships to 92 indigenous students, we want you to be the best students. I have several reasons why this scholarship was given. First this is the first indigenous university in the state.
“So if the government of Nasarawa does not support it, no one else should. Another reason is I also came from a humble background and was on scholarship all the way to the university.
“Therefore I have no reason not to give scholarships. So we are here to support the university yesterday, today and tomorrow and by the Grace of God, the university will be successful,” he said.
He, therefore commended the university’s foundation and visitor, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, for his vision in founding the institution and for bringing together distinguished Nigerians who have achieved success in their disciplines to serve on the university’s Board of Trustees and governing council.
In his remarks, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, Founder and Visitor of the university and former National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) expressed happiness over the investiture of the first Chancellor and the matriculation of the pioneering students of the university.
Adamu, the former National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) assured the students that the university will not train them to be local operators in their local communities but train them to go from the campus to influence Nasarawa State, Nigeria and be global players.
“To be trailblasers of your chosen vocations, Our vision is to train and produce graduates, who like the mythical phoenix bird, will leave this campus with a passion to invent new methods of doing things globally.
“To attain this, you must work hard and make the most of your time and the top-rated instructional and research facilities that have been made available for you,” he said.
Adamu then thanked Governor Abdullahi Sule for his support and partnership and assured him that those whose scholarship he paid for will be well groomed to serve the state and country in diverse ways.
Earlier in his address, Prof. Abdullahi Bala, Vice Chancellor, appreciated Dr Muhammadu Indimi for accepting to be the university’s first Chancellor.
He said that the Council and Senate of the University had also agreed to confer a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (DHLitts.) Honoris Causa on him.
“The Doctor of Humane Letters is normally conferred upon individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service to the community or whose accomplishments are broad in scope and far-reaching.
“The award of this degree is befitting of Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu indimi’s personality particularly for the following reasons such as his achievements as an accomplished businessman of international repute and his exemplary contribution to the nation and humanity at large in civic, business, education, humanitarian and philanthropic causes,” he said.
The VC also urged the pioneer students to take advantage of the several opportunities available to them in the university.
He therefore said that the curriculum of the school was purposefully created to create global citizens who will graduate with at least three degrees.
The Voice reports that 260 pioneer students were matriculated and enrolled in classes at the university’s three faculties namely; the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, the Faculty of Computation and Technology and the Faculty of Natural and Applied and Agricultural Sciences.
