Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has said his administration is set to establish Tertiary Education Fund, in order to rescue and improve the status of tertiary education in the state.

The governor disclosed this at the 2nd convocation ceremony of the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), in Lapai Local Government area of the state.

He pointed out that his administration placed priority on tertiary education and especially, the state-owned University. He informed the gathering of increased funding to the institution twice in the last three years, aside from other developmental projects being undertaken by the government.

This development, the governor said, has grossly enabled the University to meet its responsibilities to research, clear all outstanding earned academic allowances, ensure prompt payment of Staff wages and helped to mitigate management and staff face-off.

He then assured the University of the state and local governments continued support to enable the institution to fulfill its primary mandate.

Governor Bello also cautioned against the development and introduction of too many conflicting and confusing national educational policies, if the sector must be repositioned for effective societal development.

The governor pointed out that functional education remains the main factor for a positive change of the country's developmental narratives and stressed that lip service should no longer be made in the sustenance of the sector.

According to him, "we must move away from lip service and wishful thinking. We should take practical steps to reposition the education sector in this country and not necessarily developing too many conflicting and confusing national educational policies".

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare disclosed that the convocation was a combination of four sets of graduands (2014-2017). Adding that out of the 6,348 students who are convocated, 29 bagged First Class Honours Degree, 1,281 earned Second Class Upper, 3,290 in Second Class Lower category, 1,613 in Third Class while 135 obtained Pass Degree.

He also disclosed that out of the 118 Postgraduate students, 82 had Postgraduate Diploma while 36 graduated with Masters degrees.
He then enumerated the achievements of the institution to include: expansion and modernization of learning facilities, staff training and retraining, academic researches, community development and commended Governor Sani Bello for his enormous support to the university since assumption of office.

Also in his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor, IBBUL, Dr Mohammed Kudu Santuraki commended Governor Sani-Bello for his visionary, dynamic leadership and support to the University. He added that " in the exhilaration of success being achieved, there is still need to work assiduously to improve on the current status and expand infrastructural facilities for the school to achieve its objectives".
Meanwhile, the Chancellor of the University and the Emir of Minna, Alh. (Dr.) Umar Farouk Bahago commended the administration of Governor Sani Bello for his doggedness, efforts and contributions towards revamping the educational sector of the state.

The Chancellor appealed for more support from the state government to enable the university compete with her counterparts across the globe.

He then commends the management of the university for transforming the institution into an excellent centre of learning.
The high point of the ceremony was the award of Honorary Doctorate degree to the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru and the former Grand Khadi of Niger State, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu for their contributions to the development of the country.

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