Osinbajo sees huge potential in Kano Varsity

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the establishment of the Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State.

He said the institution had a huge potential to impact people in  significant and positive ways.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja,  said the vice president received on a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a delegation from the new university led by its founder,  Suleiman Kawu Sumaila.

“This may be the most important thing you can do; you will impact a lot of people. God has given you this opportunity to do this.”

The vice president expressed excitement about the prospects of the new university which the delegation said had registered close to 500 students permissible for the school already.

Osinbajo urged the university management to pay attention to issues of funding as  university funding was very expensive.

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“You make this a unique opportunity;  impact the students so much that they won’t just be the beneficiaries alone, but the nation too.”

Osinbajo recalled his experience as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, and also cited the establishment of Crescent University, Abeokuta, both of which are faith-based universities.

He emphasized the significance of funding to make the idea of a private university successful.

Osinbajo also urged Nigerians generally to continue to be respectful to each other.

“We must teach tolerance avoiding situations where people take hard positions as such could be divisive. We need to respect each other, it’s so important,” he said.

Earlier, Sumaila told the vice president that he learnt a lot from him while serving as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House).

Sumaila, who was  a former member of the House of Representatives and later Presidential Liaison at the National Assembly, lauded the vice president for his exemplary leadership.

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“You are a role model; we want to benefit from your experience as an academic.”

He said that the university was located in a rural setting in Sumaila, about 80km from Kano.

He added that 100 students in the University had already received scholarships from eminent philanthropists in Kano.

Among the delegation were several academics, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Salisu Shehu, a Professor of Educational Psychology, who was previously with the Department of Education, Bayero University, Kano.

On his part, Shehu said that Al-Istiqama, as a faith-based university,  shared  the world view that God is integral.

“There is a need to bring back religious education.

“You are an accomplished academic; an accomplished leader, and we see you as a leader,” he said.

AUSU is a privately owned university in Kano State and is accredited by the National Universities Commission.(NAN)