Taraba
Kwararafa University Awards Honorary Degrees to Attah Igala, Former NNPC Boss, Kente
Eleojo Samuel Jalingo
Kwararafa University Wukari, Taraba State, has conferred honorary doctorate degrees on a former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, the Attah-Igala, Mathew Alaji Oguche and a former director of finance of the National Assembly, David Kente.
The conferment of the degrees was held on Saturday at the premises of the university during the 2nd combined 2017-2024 convocation ceremony of the university.
Mr Yakubu, a former GMD of NNPC now NNPCL, was conferred with a Doctor of Science degree, the Attah Igala was awarded a Doctor of Letters degree, while Mr Kente was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service.
While congratulating the recipients, the University’s Vice Chancellor, prof. Shishi Zhema, said “while we celebrate and recognise your achievements in various aspects of human endeavours, we are quick to remind you of the responsibility these honours come with.”
In his remarks, Mr Yakubu, who is also the Pro Chancellor of the institution, said he is proud to be a descendant of the great Kwararafa Kingdom.
He urged the graduates to be proud of being products of the first Africa community University with rich cultural history.
Yakubu then announced a donation of N10 million for the establishment of a department in the University for the study of Kwararafa history.
Also speaking, Mr Kente, who has contributed a lot to the development of the University, appealed to other descendants of the dynasty across the country to join hands in uplifting the school.
While apologizing for the delay in holding convocation, Zhema said “today’s event is a historic moment, as it marks only the second convocation in the university’s life since our last in March 2017.
“We recognise the delays some of our graduates faced in receiving their original certificates and I deeply apologise for these setbacks.
“This convocation covers eight graduating sets and we are committed to holding future convocations annually, to ensure that our graduates receive the recognition they deserve promptly.
“The university is committed to improving its processes and upholding its promise of providing quality education and a streamlined experience for our students,” he said.
Mr Zhema said that since he took over the mantle of leadership, he has been working with his management towards enhancing the university’s policies and vision.
“Building on my predecessor’s strong foundation, we have introduced new policies and improvements aimed at continuous development.
“It is through such collaborative and forward-looking leadership that Kwararafa University, Wukari continues to grow as a beacon of higher learning and social transformation in Nigeria.
“Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future for our students and the community we serve.
“In the past two years, we have made significant strides across various fronts. Our enrollment numbers have seen remarkable growth, reflecting the increasing trust in the quality and relevance of our programmes.
“Through the National Universities Commission, we have achieved accreditation for all academic programmes, stabilised our academic calendar and enhanced the infrastructural development of both our city and main campuses.
“Furthermore, we have taken a bold step to introduce postgraduate programmes. These programmes have been resource verified by the NUC and we are optimistic about further expanding our offerings to meet the demands of our evolving world.
“This represents our commitment to providing a world-class education that equips our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive.
“A crucial aspect of our strategy has been fostering sustainable partnerships and entrepreneurial endeavours.
“These initiatives are part of our mission to diversify funding sources, prioritise staff welfare and create a stable environment for both students and staff.
“Our goal is to build a vibrant academic community that can adapt and innovate in response to emerging challenges.
“Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students. It is with great pride that I announce the success of 26 students who have attained the prestigious First Class Honours across our three colleges, with nine of them set to receive the university’s prestigious awards,” he noted.//////
Taraba
Takum Chieftaincy Tussle: Fresh Tension as Jukun Elders Fault Chamba Utterances
By Eleojo Samuel, Jalingo
It is no longer news that the decision by Governor Agbu Kefas, to install a Chamba man as the first class chief of Takum to abolish the age long ‘Ukwe Takum’ traditional Council in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State has generated serious concerns and tension within and outside the state.
Our reporter gathered that a fresh tension is brewing following recent alleged utterances by some Chamba elites that the Chambas having two first class traditional stools in Taraba and are gradually taken over the Kwararafa Chiefdom from the Jukuns who are having only one first class ruler in the State.
According to our sources the Chamba leaders allegedly made the comments recently at Ganye, Adamawa State, during a meeting with Chamba youth Association.
During the said meeting, the Chamba elders allegedly boasted that with General T Y Danjuma, their kinsman, the Chamba ethnic group is capable of displacing any existing traditional institution to their advantage.
It was gathered that these statements by the Chamba elders, did not go down well with prominent Jukun elders in Wukari and Takum who allegedly blamed Governor Kefas for imposing the Chamba tribe as first class chief of Takum to please General Danjuma.
Reacting on the matter, a Jukun elder from Takum, Mr Abraham Tsokwa, who spoke with a group of Journalists in Jalingo on Sunday, expressed dissatisfaction with the measures adopted by governor Kefas in the name of “resolving the Takum Traditional Tussle.”
Tsokwa said history shows that the Chambas whose population are minute in Takum, migrated from Adamawa State and the Cameroon Republic to Taraba and were never part of the Kwararafa kingdom.
He blamed governor Kefas for dancing to the dictates of TY Danjuma, (a Chamba man) to distort the traditional history of Takum Chiefdom, without consulting the Jukun elders of Takum.
He applauded the immediate past governor Darius Ishaku, for resisting every pressure and threat from the retired Chamba army general to temper with the traditional history of the Takum people.
“Ishaku, knowing the implication of toying with history, acted wisely by not subjecting himself to pressure from TY Danjuma, after consulting with elders and considering the historical background surrounding the chieftaincy in Takum.” He said.
According to him the traditional stool of Takum, has been an exclusive right of the Kutebs which they have been occupying since time immemorial. “That is why the title is Ukwe Takum in Kuteb native language.”
He blamed Kefas for playing to the gallery by subverting the interest of the Jukun and transferring them to the Chambas who are already occupying a first class seat in Donga, second class in Dakka, third class seats in Chanchangi and Kashimbila in Takum Local Government and, Suntai Daji, Dakka and Kungana in Bali local government area as well as Nyankula and Rafinkada in Wukari local government.
He expressed bitterness that the Chambas who have an insignificant population in the state, are occupying two first class traditional institutions against the Jukuns with just the Aku Uka as the only first class traditional ruler.
He warned the Chamba people, particularly those within the elders brackets, to exercise restraints in their utterances so as not to create avoidable tension in the state.
“As we await the outcome of the matter at the Appeal court in Yola, I appeal to everyone to restrain from making unguarded utterances bearing in mind the histories of inter ethnic crisis in the locality which no one benefitted.” Tsokwa said.
It could be recalled that Gov. Kefas, few months after his assumption of office tinkered with the age-old Ukwe Takum chieftaincy institution as he installed a Chamba man as a first class chief with third class chief from the Jukun and Kuteb tribes under a rotational arrangement.
The aggrieved tribe is the Kuteb who did not buy into the purported “resolution of the Chieftaincy Tussle” of their respected and predictable mode of succession to the stool of the Ukwe Takum.
The Kuteb tribe swiftly challenged the state government’s decision at a Jalingo High Court and currently at the appeal court in Yola, maintaining that the stool of Ukwe Takum which has been in existence since the creation of Takum must be restored.
Our reporter reliably gathered that recently a three man delegation consisting of a high court judge, a prominent traditional ruler and a renown private legal practitioner from the state were allegedly sent to Yola to influence the appeal number CA/YL/188/2024 filed by the Kuteb people pending before the court.
Aside from this, some Kuteb youths were also allgedly recruited and placed on a N250,000 each monthly allowances for them to feed the government with any information from the camp of the Kuteb on issues pertaining the struggle to reclaim the Ukwe stool..///.
Taraba
Senator Tutare Facilitates Training for 537 Women, Youth in Soap Production in Taraba
A two-day training program aimed at empowering 537 women and youth from Shira, Yerima, and Sendirde wards in Gassol Local Government Area, Taraba State, kicked off in Mutum Biyu, the local government headquarters.
The program, focused on bar and liquid soap production, is being implemented by Ladun Global Concept Limited, with support from Senator Abubakar Tutare and the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).
The initiative, designed to enhance self-reliance and community development, provides participants with practical skills that they can apply in both personal and commercial ventures. At the opening ceremony, Alhaji Isa Gunduma, chairman of the event, urged participants to seize the opportunity to learn and practice the skills being taught.
He emphasized that the training could be a transformative experience for their personal growth and the betterment of their communities.
CEO of Ladun Global Concept Limited, Mallum Abuga, reassured participants that the skills acquired during the training would not only improve their livelihoods but would also contribute to the overall development of their local communities.
He urged them to use the knowledge gained to create sustainable opportunities for themselves and others.
A director at the BCDA, Mr. Nesting Ovie, noted that the training would also cover the production of other household items in addition to soap. He stressed that the goal was to make participants self-reliant and empower them to teach others, thereby spreading the benefits of the program even further.
In her address, one of the program facilitators, Mrs. Hauwa Pogumai, encouraged the trainees to apply their skills with integrity and strive for excellence. She commended the participants for their commitment to the training and the organizers for their dedication to community empowerment.
The training underscores the commitment of Senator Abubakar Tutare, the Border Communities Development Agency, and Ladun Global Concept Limited to fostering skill acquisition and economic empowerment in rural communities across Taraba State.
Taraba
Why I Pushed for a Kwararafa History Department at Kwararafa University – Dr. Yakubu
From Eleojo Samuel Adaji Jalingo
The former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Pro Chancellor of the Kwararafa University Wukari, Taraba State, Engr. Dr. Andrew Yakubu Laah said he advocated for the creation of a department of Kwararafa history at the institution to preserve the Kwararafa cultural history as a foundation for a progressive future.
Dr. Yakubu stated this last Weekend shortly after he was awarded with a honorary doctorate degree in Science by the community based university in Wukari.
He explained that understanding historical roots is significant in shaping a promising future, saying, “If we do not know where we are coming from, we may not likely know where we are going”.
The former GMD added that being a descendant of the great Kwararafa Kingdom, inspired him to advocate for the creation of the department, stressing that it will open room for historians across the world to visit the University for more authentic insight on the history of the kingdom.
Dr. Yakubu also explained the need for the Middle belt and other cultures across the country to embrace their rich cultural heritage as a means of positioning themselves as leaders rather than just following the global trend.
“For us to stand out as a unique kingdom, and to compete with other cultures across the globe, we must invest and celebrate our unique cultural heritage.
“While the world should be competing with us as first-generation leaders in culture and creativity, we have abandoned that position. It is time to do things differently by investing in uplifting our culture”, he said.
Dr. Yakubu further pledged to use his connections and experience to rally round support for the development of the University.
“The ultimate aim is to make the university self-sufficient and better positioned to serve the community’s educational needs.
“We will come up with a scheme to enhance the teaching and learning environments within the school and give the students access to high-quality educational opportunities.
The School was founded in 2005 as a community based university, by the Jukun chiefdom, under the leadership of the paramount ruler, the Aku Uka, to
focus on students’ intellectual and moral development.//.
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