Why we appointed Shehu of Borno as Chancellor –Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has said that his administration appointed the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubarkar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi as chancellor of the state owned Niger Delta University, because of the “long and impressive academic, moral and political profiles of the royal father.”

Governor Dickson, while presenting the letter of appointment to the Shehu of Borno yesterday,urged some sections of the country and highly placed politicians fanning the embers of ethnic and religious disunity to retrace their steps and do things that would foster unity.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Edmond Allison-Oguru, the Bayelsa State governor traced the history of the alliance between the north and the south to the first republic, adding that the people of Bayelsa have always built bridges instead of walls in a bid to foster the unity of the nation and integration.

He noted the fact that the alliance is not just an act of coincidence, pointing out that the Niger Delta region produced the first chancellor of University of Maiduguri, in the person of late Prof. Essien Udom.

“So, it is only natural for both regions to continue their symbiotic political relationship,” he said.

He said that but for the security situation in the north-east, the ceremony would have held in the Shehu’s palace.

In his acceptance speech, the Shehu thanked the governor for the honour, describing the Niger Delta University as the university of the future.

He assured that he would strive to justify the confidence reposed in him by the government and people of Bayelsa State in particular and the South-South region in general.

He emphasized his vision for the growth and development of the NDU to a world class university as he canvassed the cooperation and support of all stakeholders.

Also speaking, a former DirectorGeneral of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Muhammed Nur Alkali noted that universities were passing through very difficult times, adding that ongoing reforms in the educational sector would help universities play bigger roles in nation building.

“Our universities must play greater roles in building bridges. This is a major role we all have to pursue. It is important we stand in solidarity for the success of the university system,” he said.