Mr. Simon Lalong, chairman, Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State with the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bala, during a fact-finding visit to ABU by the Governor. (Photo credit : Press Unit Plateau State Government House)
By Abasifreke Effiong
Aside from insecurity, another top issue that would be discussed at the meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum, slated for Kaduna State would be revamping of two foremost tertiary institutions in the Kaduna State, Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, and Kaduna Polytechnic.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum disclosed this on Thursday.
Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, who arrived Kaduna State on Wednesday ahead of the meeting inspected ABU and Kadpoly which are seen as the big “legacies of the founding fathers of the Northern region”.
Mr. Lalong was received at the ABU Zaria by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala and top management of the University.
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Macham reported that Mr. Lalong was on fact-finding visit at the instance of the Northern Governors Forum which is desirous of revitalizing the legacies of the founding fathers of the region and repositioning the economic fortunes of the region.
Lalong said during the visit that, “the areas that can fastrack the emancipation of the North today are agriculture, education and industrialisation. That is why we as Northern Governors Forum are meeting in Kaduna to discuss many issues concerning the region. We have to take major decisions on the future of the region as we work towards overcoming insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and unity. We have to revisit the ideas of Sir Ahmadu Bello and other founding fathers that set up major foundations for growth and development”.
He said ABU is one of the few legacies of the Northern region which must be sustained through active collaboration between the Northern States and the Federal Government and promised to table the challenges facing the institution before the forum.
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Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Prof. Kabiru Bala said the visit of the Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum is timely as it will assist the school address some of its challenges.
The Vice Chancellor took Governor Lalong on a tour of the Institute for Agricultural Research, National Agricultural Extension and Liaison Services, the Institute of Administration and the faculty of Law where Lalong obtained his first degree.
The Governor received a rousing welcome from staff and students and reunited with some of his lecturers in the University.
The Governor visited the Kaduna Polytechnic and was recieved by the Rector, Prof. Idris Mohammed Bugaje.
Mr. Lalong said Kadpoly was the foremost polytechnic in Nigeria which has churned out top technicians who have contributed to building infrastructure in the region.
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He said that the Northern Governors’ Forum will do everything possible to revive the fortunes of the school so that the Northern region can have a place to train young men and women who can fill the huge skill gap in the region and the country.
Rector of the polytechnic Prof. Idris Bugaje said dearth of equipment has limited the capacity of the school to keep pace with technological developments and cost the institution some of its accredited programmes.
Bugaje said the polytechnic has introduced courses in railway engineering, gas technology and also trains quality assessors.
Governor Lalong later visited the Hassan Usman Katsina House and Arewa House in Kaduna.
