Nasarawa State students studying at the University of Jos have conferred an award of Excellence in Governance on Governor Abdullahi Adamu. The award is in recognition of the numerous achievements attained by the administration in the area of educational development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Abdullahi Adamu urged the youth of today to prepare for the challenges of leadership. Governor Adamu said he was delighted that the students were watching what the present corps of leaders was doing because it will serve to motivate them for future leadership positions.

The Governor used the occasion to once again reiterate that the central focus of his administration was to reach out to the states tomorrow by laying a solid foundation for its development. He promised to ensure that the state does not revert back to the squalor in which he met it when he took over the reins of government in 1999. The awards he has been receiving therefore serve to motivate him to work harder and are adequate rewards for his labour. He therefore urged the students to ensure that they excelled in their studies, as that was the only way they could justify government’s huge expenditure in education.

Conferring the award on the Governor at Government House, Lafia, the President of the Union, Ose Agbo Adokwe, described the governor as a hard working leader whose desire was to serve the people Nasarawa state. He commended Governor Adamu’s educational policies through which many of the students benefited in scholarships and other allowances. He sited the increase in scholarship allowances from N3,500.00 to over N6,000.00 as one of the most student oriented actions of the governor. Other achievements of the governor include, according to the student leader, the building and renovation of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state; the establishment of the Nasarawa State University and other tertiary institution; the recruitment of teachers and the equipping of schools.

Mr. Adokwe assured the Governor of their support in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections and urged him to re-contest for the seat in 2003. He promised to utilize their bus to campaign for Governor Adamu and assured him that they will work hard to ensure that all Nasarawa state students voted for Governor Adamu. He therefore called on all self-styled critics to desist from such unwarranted actions as this will only lead to their waterloo.

The award ceremony was attended by the deputy governor, all members of the state executive and security councils, top government officials, prominent citizens of the state and a large delegation of students from the university of Jos.