Primordial Sentiments Must Not Define Our Unity-Buni
By Bukar BOLORI
Yobe state Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has appealed to the people of the state not to allow socio-cultural, religious and political sentiments to define their relationships and unity of the state.
He stated this at a reception in honour of Barrister Baba Dala Fika, who was conferred with the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Buni said his administration is committed to building a state that guarantees a true sense of belonging to all sons and daughters of the state.
He said: “We will not give room to cultural, ethnic, political, social status and religious differences to define who we are, or determine our unity as a people.”
He however assured that his administration would continue to accord education a top priority to improve human capital development as a measure to fast track development in the state.
He said: “I wish to reassure the good people of Yobe state that our administration is committed to providing the needed infrastructure, manpower, and payment of examination fees to every child, to meet our objective of providing free education to all school-aged children in the state.
“It is heartwarming that the conferment of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria on this illustrious son of the state has come at a time when our administration is investing hugely in the study of professional and specialized courses including law, as part of the strategy to reinvigorate education in our dear state.
“I am glad to state with a sense of fulfilment that the declaration of State of Emergency on education in the state has significantly improved the performances of our students in external examinations, preparing them adequately qualified to gain admissions into tertiary institutions, and successfully completing their advanced studies in and outside the country” he noted .
Meanwhile, over 500 law graduates from various universities in the last four years have been supported by the state government to pursue professional certificates at the Nigeria Law School.
The state government this year sponsored 221 law graduates with registration fees of N475,000 and a laptop computer each, with candidates of other professional courses including medical sciences and accountancy were also sponsored by the state government.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you may recall that the state government sponsored 233 students mostly from indigent families to study in India. It is with a sense of fulfilment that l inform you that last week, we celebrated the return of 171 fresh graduates in Medicine, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Information Technology, Civil, Mechanical, Agricultural and Petroleum Engineering among others who have just completed their studies in reputable Universities in India, and graduated with flying colours with 62 others still pursuing their studies in line with the duration and other requirements of their courses.
“Today, over 38,000 Yobe state students on government sponsorship are pursuing first degrees, Masters and Doctorate degrees in various universities, Colleges and Polytechnics. Similarly, we have granted scholarships to over 400 students studying in the United Kingdom, Egypt, United States of America, Malaysia, Jordan, Turkey, and Russia among others.
“Let me take this opportunity to sincerely appreciate the good people of Yobe state for supporting our policies and programmes which have contributed immensely to the modest achievements recorded by our administration.
“I want to specifically appreciate our illustrious sons and daughters who are selflessly serving on the Education Trust Fund board. Your prudence in managing the fund to achieve maximum results is worthy of commendation. I hereby reassure you of our support and complete independence to execute your assignment for us to achieve our set goals.
“l will not end this address without expressing my profound gratitude to our elder statesman whose support, cooperation and patriotism have massively contributed to our quest to build a state that guarantees a true sense of belonging and unity.”
