The attention of Zamfara government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Hon (Dr) Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun, Barden Hausa and Shatiman Sokoto has been drawn to some fake publications, particularly on some social media platforms regarding the state of affairs in the University, in which the government was mischievously criticised by some unscrupulous personalities having ulterior motives, best known to them.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for information, Zamfara state. Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, a copy of which was made available to the Spectacles on Mondayc, 28th March, 2022.
These ungrateful individuals made some wild allegations against the government regarding the university without proper basic research and cross checking of their facts to understanding issues as they are, before going to press.
It is therefore imperative to update and enlighten the general public regarding the institution.
For the record, the immediate past administration in the state secured the NUC licence for the establishment of the State University. However, it may interest the general public to note that only the site of the University was identified and secured in Talata Mafara and contracts for the development of facilities were awarded at hyper inflated costs to cronies. There was no management staff, academic and none academic staff for the institution.
The take-off Committee set up was neither given any clear terms of reference nor was it given the financial wherewithal to execute any initiatives. The clear and sudden lost of interest in the University project soon after awarding these outrageous contracts for the construction of structures in the University to cronies, was a clear demonstration that the previous administration didn’t have any further plan for the development of the institution.
Similarly, the financial grant required for the take-off of the University was not provided. This was in addition to the flagrant refusal of the Government then, to appoint a Vice-Chancellor, Principal officers and Management staff for the University to commence operation.
Furthermore, the previous administration neither employed any academic staff relevant to the courses set out for the University to offer nor did it employ non-academic staff that would facilitate the take-off and subsequent conduct of academic activities.
It is important to note that when this administration came in to power in 2019, no academic activities were going on in the University. The University was found closed by the present administration.
It was HE Matawallen Maradun that approved the immediate commencement of academic activities which demonstrated his commitment to the University project in the initial stage.
Soon after assuming office in 2019, His Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) Bello Mohammed, MON, (Matawallen Maradun), evaluated the socio-economic worth of the University project, and decided to pursue its development to its logical conclusion. Consequently, he appointed Prof. Muazu Gusau, from the Department of Biochemistry of Usmanu University Sokoto, as the first substantive Vice-Chancellor to chart the course for the development of the University in June, 2020. To further speed up and fast track the take off of the institution, he again replaced Prof. Muazu with Prof Yahaya Zakari, the current Vice Chancellor, also from the Usman Danfodio University. In the same vein, the Governor appointed Mal Bashiru Samaila Mafara as the pioneer Registrar, Mal. Usman Bungudu as Bursar of the institution and Mal Abubakar Sule Kaura as the Director Physical Planning, Works and Maintenance.
The University has since commenced academic activities with courses presently offered, which include among others; Accounting, Arabic Studies, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Education and Arabic, Education and Biology, Education and Chemistry, Education and Economics, Education and English Language, Education and Islamic Studies, Education and Mathematics, Education and Physics, Education and Political Science, English Language, Geology, Hausa, History and International Studies, Islamic Studies, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Physics with Electronics, Plant Science and Biotechnology, Public Administration, Sociology and Zoology. Out of these courses, 18 were accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). All the 32 programmes had interim accreditation by the NUC at the commencement of the academic activities.
As a further demonstration of the present administration’s commitment to the smooth development of the University, all processes have now been concluded and recruitment of 265 academic staff, as well as 300 non-academic staff are in advanced stage. Interviews have been conducted for most of the applicants and are awaiting the last stage of the final screening of the recruitment process.
His Excellency has also approved the release of Sixty Million Naira the University owed the part – time lecturers engaged to teach the students in the university.
Following the fulfilment of the accreditation criteria and conditions, the university had accessed all it grants and teaching and learning are going on in the university in an impressive manner with satisfaction from both the NUC, other grants awarding agencies and the state government.
All these were done by the administration of Governor Matawalle from 2019 to date, amidst the prevailing dwindling financial resources, pressing financial engagements of the State Government and the prevailing security challenges which most often caused the deployment of funds to address them.
Funds earlier earmarked for other developmental activities many a times had to be re-channelled to areas of emergency critical needs of the public.
By the special grace of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Matawalle administration would neither be faltered nor be distracted by these political bandits from nurturing the State University to maturity.
