From A Modest Beginning...

OPENING ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ALH. (DR.) ABDULLAHI ADAMU (SARKIN YAKIN KEFFI AND AARE OBATERU OF THE SOURCE), THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF NASARAWA STATE AND VISITOR, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 43^RD MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF VICE CHANCELLORS OF NIGERIAN STATE UNIVERSITIES HELD AT THE PYANKU CAMPUS OF NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY (NSU), KEFFI ON FRIDAY, 3^RD FEBRUARY, 2006

The Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian State Universities;

Distinguished Participants at this Meeting;

Gentlemen of the Press;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my honour and pleasure to welcome you all, first to Nasarawa State, and particularly to our most priced University on this historic occasion of the 43^rd regular meeting of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian State Universities. I wish to comment that the principle of rotation which you have adopted in holding this forum is a laudable one as it affords everyone of you the opportunity to see what is actually on ground in every University and thus find ways and means of assisting with ideas and suggestions on how to move forward. Your coming to the Nasarawa State University is, therefore, highly commendable.

The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian State Universities is a formidable and vibrant forum from which the aspirations, views and peculiarities of State Universities can be aptly articulated to their Visitors and appropriate supervisory bodies like the National Universities Commission.

As you may be aware, Nasarawa State University came on board during the first tenure of this administration mainly to cater for the needs of our teeming young school leavers who have been finding it difficult to get absorbed in the Federal Universities in spite of their qualifications. From a very modest beginning the University has greatly blossomed to 4596 students spread in over seven faculties as at the end of 2005. The pioneer students graduated in the second quarter of 2005 and by the grace of God, the first convocation for the award of degrees will come up on the 18^th February, 2006. May I therefore use this rare opportunity to invite all of you to share this great achievement with us.

With a strong vision and mission, the State Government is fully committed to the development of the University in all its facets.

In keeping with our desire to make the Institution a rare model among its peers, the State Government has sunk in huge sums of money to provide most of the needed facilities. The need to invest heavily in the University is further predicated on its proximity to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Of recent, the State Government expended over one hundred and fifty million Naira (N150,000,000.00) to get the University fully set for the accreditation of various programmes being run by the Institution. About four faculty buildings are in various stages of completion. An ultra-modern convocation square has just been completed in preparation for the Convocation Ceremony coming up in two weeks time. While Administrative block is being expanded to provide for more offices and modern Senate Chambers, we have also embarked on the construction of 1000-seater Auditorium which is in progress. The Auditorium is designed to take care of large lectures and other major University functions. These and many more developmental projects are going on so that we can achieve the main objectives of setting up the University.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am aware that my role is to declare the meeting open. Before I do that, I wish to urge you to ensure that you are taken round the two campuses of the University, so that you may appreciate the magnitude of our commitment to this important cause.

The State Government in conjunction with all our Local councils and Development Areas will continue to pool resources together for the maximum development of this University. It is our baby and we must, as a matter of duty, nurture it to its full maturity and the realisation of the ideals, which informed its establishment. It is not an easy task, but our commitment to this noble cause will see us through.

Having said this much, it is with great honour, sense of duty and fulfillment that I formally declare the 43^rd meeting of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian State Universities open.

I wish you all fruitful deliberations and a happy stay in Nasarawa State.

Thank you and God bless.