Borno state varsity names Ooni of Ife Chancellor

Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the Borno State-owned Kashim Ibrahim University (KIU).

His investiture in that capacity is scheduled for Friday, January 3, during the institution’s first combined convocation ceremony, at which honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) degrees will be conferred on him and Mohammed Indimi, an industrialist.

Babagana Gutti, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, told journalists on Thursday in Maiduguri that the monarch’s appointment, made by the state governor, was approved by Governor Babagana Zulum.

Gutti reiterated that the university is ready to introduce courses in artificial intelligence, computing, cybersecurity and other advanced technologies to improve the future of youths in Borno State and Nigeria at large.

He said: “We will bring all these Almajiri on board and harness the potential of these young, intelligent children who are making us proud. We will identify their talents and provide an enabling environment for them to flourish.”

He added: “We must tackle illiteracy through education to win the fight against terrorism in the North-East because terrorists capitalise on the ignorance of young children and use them to propagate their evil campaigns. Courses such as cybersecurity, computing and others will commence soon, in line with future needs.”

“At its inception in 2016, the university established four faculties: Arts, Education and Culture; Social Sciences and Management; and Sciences. The number of faculties later increased with the addition of the faculties of Engineering and Health Sciences.

“With the approval of the Borno State government, postgraduate programmes, as well as new faculties of Law, Environmental Sciences and Computing, will be established,” Prof. Gutti said. “Programmes such as Arabic, Physical and Health Education, and Library Science will also be introduced.”

The university will graduate 2,294 students across three academic sessions: the 2021/2023 set, with 523 graduates, including five First Class degree holders; the 2023/2024 set, with 489 graduates, 10 of whom earned First Class degrees; and the 2024/2025 set, with 1,282 graduates, including First Class degree holders.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to grace the occasion.

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