The National Universities Commission (NUC) has recognised the establishment of the Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, issued the letter of recognition of the varsity to a high-powered delegation led by the State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The Governors delegation comprised the Senator representing the Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Foster Ogola, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, the Vice Chancellor of the Niger Delta University, Prof. Samuel Edonmiekumor, Bayelsa Medical University, Ebitimitula Etebu, the Project Coordinator Bayelsa Medical University, Mr. Bennaiah Oye, the Acting Registrar, Dr. Akpoebi Adesi

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media Relations to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Prof. Rasheed as having said that the NUC had recognised the Bayelsa Medical University as the 48th State owned university, the fourth medical university, and the second state owned medical university in Nigeria.

The NUC Executive Secretary said that while the commission was opposed to proliferation of universities, the outstanding and consistent contributions of Governor Dickson to the development of education in Bayelsa and his credibility left the commission with no other option than to recognise the school.

He commended the Governor for the establishment of the University of Africa, which he said has more foreign input per capita, than any other university in the country.

“The UAT per capita has more foreign input that any other university. In a very few years to come, that university will be ranked among the best. It has the universal character.”

He said that the NUC was happy that the Governor was showing the way on how best to build a university in Nigeria.

He said that with the universal character and nature of the UAT, the young institution was gradually becoming an international university which would attract a very higher ranking in the global committee of universities.

According to Prof Rasheed, the NUC was encouraged by the fact that ‘whatever Dickson touches, he turns to gold’ having establishing the University of Africa which had taken off on a solid foundation.

He said even though the university was the fourth medical university in the country, he was optimistic that it would be a pacesetting institution in the country.

“I congratulate the Governor for this feat, it is not easy to arrive at this decision. Although, we don’t encourage the proliferation of universities, we have seen the pedigree of this great man. He has a second university that is gradually becoming an international university. Whatever he touches becomes gold. This university is the fourth medical university, but i am optimistic that it will be a pacesetter in Nigeria.

“The UAT per capita has more foreign input that any other university in Nigeria. In a few years to come, that university will be ranked among the best. It has the desired universal character. Our universities are losing that universal character, they are assuming ethnic character. We have instances where communities fight over who should be Vice Chancellor of federal universities.

“He is a good friend of the NUC, a man of knowledge, with one of the best personal libraries. Dickson is a man of letters, a man of great learning.

“Dickson Is one of the few Nigerians that we should be proud of. He very articulate, intelligent, Nigerian who is not inhibited by religion, tribe or zone.

Speaking also, Governor Dickson that NUC for the expeditious way the request and application for the establishment of the university was attended to.

He criticised the practice in the country where university education was considered cheaper than nursery and primary schools.

Dickson who blamed the inadequate funding of the university system to the leadership of the country, lamented that the same people opposed to funding the university system were sending their wards to foreign universities.

He said that the tendency to play politics with the universities would further aggravate and indeed kill the valued institutions.

“Nigerian University cannot afford the luxury of being cheaper than nursery and primary schools. It is the fault of the leadership of the country. These are the same people who are sending their wards and pay fees which are ten times higher. The fact is that we play politics with funding of the universities and the universities are dying.

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