The Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Professor Bashir Garba, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education policies, describing them as impactful and transformative for Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Garba gave the commendation on Saturday during the university’s combined 50th anniversary and 42nd convocation ceremony held at the institution’s main campus.
“The Tinubu administration’s commitment to revitalising public universities has already begun to yield positive results,” Garba stated.
“From improved funding frameworks to policy reforms aimed at enhancing academic quality and institutional autonomy, this dispensation is laying a stronger foundation for sustainable growth in higher education.”
Representing President Tinubu at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, reaffirmed the government’s resolve to expand access to quality education.
She highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a landmark initiative aimed at supporting students’ academic pursuits, adding that the President had also earmarked ₦120 billion for vocational education.
Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, an alumnus of UDUS, praised the institution’s achievements and pledged stronger collaboration with the university in areas of innovation, skills development, and education reform.
Governor Aliyu announced a special reward for the best graduating student, Abdullahi Sherif, from the Department of Microbiology, who graduated with a 4.92 CGPA, awarding him a Hajj slot in recognition of his academic excellence.
“This university has profoundly impacted lives both within Nigeria and beyond Africa. Its contributions to national and international development cannot be overestimated, and today’s graduates should be proud to be part of that legacy,” he said.
The governor also outlined recent education-focused interventions by his administration, including the settlement of ₦1.845 billion in accumulated tuition fees for Sokoto medical students studying locally and abroad, the appointment of four UDUS professors to head key education sectors in the state, and the renovation of primary, secondary, and tertiary schools.
The convocation attracted dignitaries including representatives of President Tinubu, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Oba of Lagos (Chancellor of UDUS), members of the National Assembly, diplomats, traditional rulers, senior academics, and alumni.
Three distinguished individuals were honoured at the event: former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruku Yahaya (retd), who received a Doctor of Science; Islamic scholar Sheikh Aminu Durawa, conferred with a Doctor of Letters; and Prof. Dejo Abdulraman, honoured as Emeritus Professor for his service to the university.
Arewa PUNCH reports that the event marked a historic milestone for UDUS, celebrating five decades of academic excellence and its contributions to Nigeria’s intellectual, socio-economic, and cultural development.
