Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, Prof Kabiru Bala has disclosed that lifting embargo on employment would address manpower shortfall in teaching and research institutions.
At the 42nd convocation ceremony of ABU in Zaria on Saturday, Bala noted that the challenges resulted from government policies like embargo on employment.
The Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF) had in May 15, 2020 through a memo, announced the general suspension of recruitment into the Public Service as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Federal Government’s revenue projections.
Bala pleaded with the federal government to lift the embargo on recruitment to enable universities address the widening gaps.
He said: “ABU is facing challenges of financial sustainability since the aftermath of COVID-19, serious legal battles that affect its finances and other government policies that exert pressure on its financial standing."
Bala enjoined stakeholders to join forces with the institution to unearth alternative ways of handling its affairs.
He stated that the university recognised the importance of adopting long-term strategies towards attaining financial sustainability such as resuscitation of endowment foundation.
The vice chancellor said that a total of 35,758 candidates that enrolled for the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 sessions were for conferment of first degrees, postgraduate diplomas and higher degrees at the Diamond Jubilee Convocation.
Bala disclosed that out of the 35,758 graduates, 8,842 bagged higher degrees like Ph.D (869); M.Phil (60); Masters (6,179) and Postgraduate Diplomas (1,734).
He informed that 26,916 would receive Bachelors Degrees out of which 273 obtained First Class; 5,647 Second Class Upper Division; 17,567 Second Class Lower Division; 2,899 Third Class Honours; 45 Pass degrees, and 485 unclassified degrees.
The vice chancellor revealed that four outstanding personalities were conferred with the institution’s honorary doctorate degrees for their immeasurable contributions to humanity.
The honorary degree awardees include former military governor of old Kano State, Col. Sani Bello (Rtd) and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mrs Amina Mohammed.
Others were former Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa-Jibo and Katsina-based philanthropist, Hajiya Fatima Kurfi.
Bala said that Mrs Amina Mohammed was absent and would be conferred with the honorary degree at a later date.
The Chancellor of ABU, HRH Nnaemeka Achebe advised the graduating students to think creatively on how they would become self employed rather than queuing up to join the labour market for a monthly salary.
Achebe, who is the Obi of Onitsha pointed out that the 21st century is the era of digital and social revolution, as technology opened up access to all occupations, professions and vocations.
He declared that COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitless opportunities that currently exist for brilliant men and women.
Achebe challenged them to utilise the opportunities by conquering and making the world a better place with innovative ideas, adding that ABU education provided them with the pedastal for self-fulfillment.
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