Niger State Governor, Rt Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago has advocated the need for priority attention to be accorded to vocational trainings in the Education sector.
The Governor stated this when the management and staff of the New Gate University paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House Minna.
Governor Umaru Bago explained that best students should be identified and be given scholarships as an encouragement while opportunities for a short term vocational training should be created for others who cannot obtain degree qualification.
“Nature has a way of putting everybody into his position, so let us encourage vocational training even at the level of university, short term causes on how to fix phones, repair computers, how to service barbing machines, fix microphones can be introduced and it will change our thinking and Psyche because we need more people in this category than those with degree”.
He said that subsidizing education is not the best as it will reduce quality but that scholarships can be given to best students seeking for admission into tertiary institutions as an encouragement.
Governor Umaru Bago expressed dismay over the insufficient medical practitioners in the state and that government is determined to encourage those who want to study medical related causes pointing out that there are a lot of value chain in the Medical services.
“We are poised to see that we change that imbalance. We need to give incentives, we need to give encouragement to people and children who want to go into medicine or medical related courses.
“We are considering a bond arrangement where 50% percent scholarship will be given to medical students and they will sign a pact to work for the state government for some years before going to other places”, he said.
He also said time has come for stakeholders in education to think out of the box by taking advantage of technology to encourage e-learning.
The Governor encouraged the Management of the New Gate University to engage Public Private Partnership in carrying out infrastructural development in the institutions, consider renewable energy as an alternative source of power and investments that would bring growth and development to the institution.
He commended the founder of the University for establishing the institution and assured that his administration will continue to come up with policies and programmes that would encourage him and others to make Niger state an academic city.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Yusuf Sadiq highlighted the importance of prioritizing education of young people as they are agents of positive change and the future of the society.
He said the university has partnered with a Foundation for 50% tuition scholarship to all qualified candidates from 25 local government ares of the state adding that 120 students are already benefiting from it.
Prof. Sadiq also said the Pro-Chancellor has agreed to pay 100% scholarship to best students in public schools within Minna metropolis regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.
He said the institution offer causes such as ICT, cyber security and medical related causes among others and expressed confidence that the University would produce graduates that would be of benefit to the state.
The V.C then called on the Governor to honour government support in the area of security, adequate power supply, conducive learning environment for the students.
The delegation of the New Gate University was led by the Pro-Chancellor, Nuhu Hassan.
Bologi Ibrahim
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State
11/07/2023.
