We need more lecturers, SSU VC tells Gov Aliyu

The Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University (SSU), Professor Muhammad Bello Yarima, has appealed to the Sokoto State Government to approve the recruitment of more academic staff to support the institution’s expanding academic programmes and proposed new faculties.

Yarima made the appeal on Saturday at the combined 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th convocation ceremony of the university in Sokoto.

He said the institution, which commenced academic activities in 2011 with three faculties, had grown to five faculties and was awaiting approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 22 additional academic programmes.

According to him, the proposed programmes will increase the number of faculties in the university to between eight and nine.

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“Our admission quota, academic programmes and student population are increasing. We need additional qualified academic staff to drive these new programmes, and we appeal to the state government to approve more recruitment,” the vice-chancellor said.

He disclosed that the proposed programmes include Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Medical Sciences and Nursing, describing them as courses that would position the university to meet future manpower demands.

Yarima also revealed that the university was establishing a Centre of Excellence for Solid Mineral Research to promote scientific research and safer mining practices.

He noted that the institution had continued to strengthen research through TETFund interventions and competitive grants, adding that staff members had benefited from overseas training in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and India.

The vice-chancellor commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for supporting the institution, particularly through funding the combined convocation and sustaining the policy of automatic employment for first-class graduates.

“The governor approved all the funds required for this convocation within days, making it possible for us to organise this event successfully. We are equally implementing the policy of automatic employment for first-class graduates,” he said.

Yarima disclosed that four first-class graduates had recently been employed by the university under the state government’s policy.

A total of 42 graduates earned first-class honours during the combined convocation ceremony.

The graduating students included 779 from the Faculty of Arts, 347 from Computing, 1,187 from Education, 1,886 from Science, and 1,317 from Social Sciences.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu, in his address, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, describing it as a critical driver of development.

“Education remains one of the cornerstones of our administration’s development agenda because no society can attain sustainable development without investing in quality education,” he said.

The governor said his administration had cleared outstanding salary arrears owed to visiting and sabbatical lecturers, improved staff welfare, renovated staff quarters, and embarked on major infrastructure projects within the university.

He pledged sustained support for the institution’s growth through improved infrastructure, research funding, and academic development.

“We remain fully committed to supporting Sokoto State University in its quest to become one of the leading institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. We will continue to encourage innovation, research and institutional development,” Aliyu said.

He commended the university management for sustaining academic excellence and paid tribute to former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for establishing the institution, saying the decision had expanded access to higher education for thousands of young Nigerians.