17th Convocation of Al-Qalam University, Katsina

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahamatullah wa barakatuhu

I am pleased to be here today to address this distinguished gathering at the 17th Convocation Ceremony of Al-Qalam University, Katsina. As Governor of Katsina State, I commend Al-Qalam University for its consistent efforts in complementing government’s role in the provision of quality university education. Institutions such as this play an important role in widening access to higher education and in shaping discipline, responsible, and productive citizens.

My administration places education at the centre of our development agenda. This is because education remains one of the most effective tools for social mobility, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. Through education, our people are empowered to improve their lives and contribute meaningfully to society. In line with this conviction, the Katsina State Government has invested over ₦6.18 billion in scholarship awards, benefiting 174,451 students, including those studying overseas.

We also recognize that strong universities can only be built on a solid foundation of basic education. That is why this administration has deliberately focused on strengthening education at the grassroots. Our objective is clear: to ensure that students entering tertiary institutions from Katsina State are better prepared academically and mentally, having had many learning gaps addressed early at the primary and secondary levels.

To achieve this, we recruited additional teachers for primary and secondary schools across the state, constructed 160 new classrooms, and rehabilitated 258 others. We trained over 20,000 teachers and equipped them with tablets containing customized learning resources. In addition, three model schools were established to improve learning standards and outcomes.

Beyond formal education, we have invested deliberately in skills acquisition and human capital development. We supported the Katsina Youth Craft Village to secure accreditation as a National Skills Qualifications training provider by the National Board for Technical Education. This step ensures that our youths acquire relevant, market-driven skills that can translate directly into livelihoods.

In the same spirit, we established the Katsina Enterprise Development Agency, KASEDA, to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business growth across the State. We also set up Skills Acquisition Centres in different locations, and just this week, 1,000 adolescent girls graduated from these centres and were empowered. This reflects our belief that skills development, especially for women and youth, is essential for inclusive and sustainable development.

Our support for Al-Qalam University has been consistent from the very beginning. At its inception, the Katsina State Government donated the land on which the University is situated and mobilized state employees to contribute towards its early development. In subsequent years, government also approved the use of public health facilities for the delivery of Allied Health Sciences Programmes.

When this administration came on board, the Vice Chancellor and other members of the University Management as well as representatives of the Katsina Islamic Foundation, the promoters of the University, while on a courtesy visit to my office brought to our attention the absence of a perimeter fence around the campus. Considering our strong commitment to education and the security challenges facing the State at the time, including banditry around the outskirts of the state capital, we did not hesitate to approve the construction of a perimeter fence to secure the University environment.

To the graduands, I congratulate you on this important achievement. You have completed one stage of your journey, and a new phase now begins. I urge you to conduct yourselves with integrity, discipline, and a sense of responsibility. Use the knowledge and skills you have acquired to contribute positively to your communities, our State, and our nation.

To our distinguished recipients of honorary degrees, I extend my heartfelt congratulations. This honour recognizes your achievements, your service, and the values you represent. You serve as role models to these graduands and to society at large, and we trust that you will continue to contribute to national development and human progress.

Let me conclude by congratulating Al-Qalam University on this milestone, and by wishing the institution continued growth and success in the years ahead.

May Allah bless Katsina State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.