VolumeVINo.35 August-November2018 A Monthly Publication from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor TETFUND COMMENDS UNIMAID FOR JUDICIOUS USE OF FUNDS Inside: - Education Bills Meant to Develop Human Capital - The Realities and Prospects of Living Long - Fighting Corruption in Nigeria: The Journey So Far - Society For Peace Studies Honours Prof. Njodi - DVM Graduands Perform Induction and Oath-Taking... CONSTRUCTION OF CENTRE FOR - Unimaid SUG Inaugurates New Executives DISTANCE LEARNING TO COMMENCE IN EARNEST..........INDIMI - Unimaid ANUPA Organizes Workshop © University of Maiduguri, Nigeria www.unimaid.edu.ng The University of Maiduguri shall be an institution dedicated to scholarship and learning in the arts, sciences, humanities and technology, and the development of moral and civic character of all persons who pass through her portals. The University shall facilitate and advance scholarship and learning, especially in the light of her location in the Sahelian environment in the North-Eastern Nigeria, and at the cross-roads of Africa and Middle- Eastern culture. The University of Maiduguri apart from achieving competence in the basic arts and sciences, aims at excellence in agriculture, pastoralism, engineering, human and veterinary medicine and information technology as well as in arid zone, trans-Saharan and inter-African peace and strategic studies. The University also aims to promote the development of private and public morality, discipline, accountability and probity, and also international cooperation through participation, research and dissemination of information. EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Musa I. Ahmed - Chairman Professor Mohammed L. Mele - Member Dr. Mary N. Pindar - Member Mall. Musa Usman - Member Mall. Mohammed T. Ahmed - Member Fati Aliyu - Secretary All letters should be addressed to: The Deputy Director, Information Unit, Published by: Senate Building, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. No. 24, Bama Road, Opp. FGC, Maiduguri email: [email protected] Tel: 08032524127; 08027193233 August-November,2018 Vol.VINo.35 EDITORIAL Editorial Comment he Vice-Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, is a good example of a silent achiever. He is accommodating but principled and firm, a Tveritable team player, visionary team leader and the architect of modern Unimaid. This time around, his telescope focuses on the Unimaid Bulletin which is a true testimony of this acclamation. He envisaged to enhance the impact of the Bulletin on the University community and make it an informative window to the outside world. It is against this background that he reconstituted the Editorial Board of the Bulletin and facilitated a renewed vigour to ensure that the goals and objectives of the instrument establishing the Bulletin are achievable. In pursuance to this objectives, the Bulletin will henceforth be a monthly publication and accessible on the University official website (www.unimaid.edu.ng). On a sad note, the University lost some of its illustrious staff and students in the last few weeks. The University community is thus united in grief but is urged to accept death as a reality of life. Accepting the existence of death will make us be prepared to handle grief and bereavement that comes along with death. Death is more universal than life itself because everyone dies but not everyone lives. Death is a debt that all of us here and those yet unborn must pay at the appointed time. When we were born, we cried and the world rejoiced. We should endeavour to live life in such a manner that when we die the world cries and we rejoice. May their souls rest in peace, and may God in his infinite mercy and grace grant the University community and the families of the deceased the solace and fortitude to bear the loss; and we pray for quick recovery of the injured among the victims of the tragic motor accident. Editorial Board Reportorial Team Mall. Moh’d T. Ahmed, mnipr - Deputy Director, Information Alh. Suleiman Garba - Chief Photographer Ahmadu Abubakar - Photographer Bintu Mohammed (Mrs) - Reporter Rabi U. Yusuf (Mrs) - Reporter Faculty/Directorate Representatives - Reporters Kyari Ali - Circulation Prof. Musa I. Ahmed - Design, Development & Integration © University of Maiduguri, Nigeria www.unimaid.edu.ng PAGE 01 August-November,2018 Vol.VINo.35 NEWS VC WITH MANAGEMENT STAFF VISIT DIGNITARIES ON SALLAH DAY Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi exchanging pleasantries with His Excellency Hon. Kashim Shettima, the Governor of Borno State. he Executive Governor of Borno State, Hon. He further pointed out that the World Kashim Shettima, has observed that despite Health Organization and the European Union Tthe insurgency that bedevilled the State and records revealed that the insurgency in the the meagre resources at his disposal the State has left over fifty-four thousand administration has been able to build over forty (54,000) widows and fifty two thousand model schools equipped with digital information (52,000) orphans who the government now and communication equipment across the state as has to fend for. well as a state university. The Governor disclosed He laments that the seven-year period this when the Vice-Chancellor, University of of his administration has been characterized Maiduguri, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, in by wanton killings and destruction of schools, company of top management staff of the houses and public buildings which he said gives institution, paid traditional Sallah homage to the credence to the WHO and EU records. The Governor at the Government House Maiduguri on Governor then commended the Vice- Wednesday 22nd August 2018. Chancellor for being focused and steadfast by Governor Shettima stated that the Borno not closing the University for a single day State Government intends to recruit over a throughout the period of insurgency in the thousand teachers to teach in these newly built state. Such leadership style, he said, is what schools because, according to him, most of the should be emulated by those entrusted with existing teachers are incompetent and lack leadership positions and urged him to maintain the skills to fit into the modern ways of teaching. the tempo. In his remarks earlier, the Vice- He stressed that the government will have to solicit Chancellor informed the Governor that he has for the cooperation and understanding of been the driving force and motivator in the members of the University community in the form achievements he recorded in the University of volunteer teachers adding that he too will take adding that the transformational changes time off to participate in the teaching being witnessed in the State spurs him to feel himself a one-time teacher. challenged and do the same for the University PAGE 02 August-November,2018 Vol.VINo.35 NEWS so that it does not lag behind academically and in Management, he said, is highly appreciative terms of infrastructure. Professor Njodi further of this gesture stressing that already the stated that Governor Shettima and members of would-be contractors from Germany and his administration have been very supportive of some of his international associates from the yearnings and aspirations of members of the Switzerland and Harvard University have university community especially in ensuring that visited the University and shown the site for the the University remained open throughout the project and also had a guided facility tour period of insurgency. This, he said, the Governor round the University. He therefore, on behalf did by providing adequate security personnel of University management, thanked him for this and gadgets, funds and other facilities that really magnanimous gesture and wished him good made members of the University community health, strength, wisdom and also the courage comfortable and safe enough to continue with to continue with his good philanthropic works their daily academic activities and programmes. to humanity. Meanwhile, an elder statesman He then thanked and assured the and educationist, Professor Emeritus Umaru Governor of the University’s unflinching support to Shehu, has expressed appreciation to the his administration and the Volunteer Teacher Management team of the University of Programme stressing that members of the Maiduguri for finding time to pay him the University community will key-in to the programme traditional Sallah homage in his residence. with a view to making it succeed. The Governor, Such visits, the elder statesman said, Professor Njodi further said, has from all intents always strengthens the bond of relationship and purposes shown that education is dear to his between the University and members of the heart and assured him of the University’s support larger community which he observed is a in whatever way possible. healthy development which should be In a related development, a Maiduguri sustained. Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu based international business mogul, Alhaji (Dr.) then noted that this singular gesture makes the Muhammadu Indimi, has expressed his immediate community and other stakeholders appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor in the education sector to always identify with Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi and members of his the University in times of trials and tribulations management team for paying him Sallah homage and called on the Management not to and accepting to work with him for the good of the abandon the tradition. The Vice-Chancellor institution. He added that the University of had earlier congratulated the elder statesman Maiduguri is now his second home. The Vice- for the Honorary Award to be bestowed on Chancellor had earlier informed him of the him by the University of Ibadan during the purpose of the visit, “to pay homage and to thank 70th Anniversary of its establishment coming him for the planned building of a Centre for up in November 2018. The University of Distance Learning and an international Maiduguri community, the Vice-Chancellor conference centre for the University”. The said, will be there to support and share the joy of the award of one of its own at the occasion and wished him good health, long life and prosperity in the coming years ahead.