By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on Tuesday, said that universities cannot function without the services of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU.
The Emir also told the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and other government institutions to maintain the tradition of equipping national institutions of higher learning with necessary facilities, which he started when he served as the CBN governor.
Speaking when he received SSANU leadership and members led by its President, Comrade Mohammed Haruka Ibrahim, on a courtesy in his palace, the first-class monarch, who was once a member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, said he took advantage of his university education background to give back to the sector.
He said that if the CBN and other government institutions continue on the current trajectory of equipping universities and other institutions of higher learning, complaints about a lack of facilities will become a thing of the past.
He said, “I am happy to receive you. I was familiar with SSANU. I started my life as an academic and a member of ASUU, so the universities cannot function without SSANU.
“So, somebody has to employ the teachers and pay their salaries and provide the facilities and the infrastructure and maintain the vehicles, and therefore, like everything else, it’s crucial to recognise that the university is like a vehicle with many parts, and every part is essential.
“If you take out one part, the vehicle will not move. And yes, it’s true. One of the things I’m most pleased about in my years at the Central Bank is that, due to my university background, I took advantage of being there to see what I could do to support universities across the country, both federal and state.
“And it gives me great pleasure sometimes when I just run into a Vice-Chancellor, and he tells me, in my university, you did this and all that, and it’s legacy, and I hope that the Central Bank and other institutions will continue with that tradition.
“Because the truth is, if year after year, institutions do that, this whole complaint about a lack of facilities will disappear. The institutions that generate a surplus are also permitted to do so, whether it’s building outputs, expanding faculties, or investing in technology, centres of excellence, or laboratories.
“And I hope you will engage these institutions and encourage them, and engage the government, encourage them to do this.
“I’m happy that you’re having this meeting in Kano. Kano has hosted numerous national meetings over the last year. I’m so glad I’ve seen the National Association on Food and Technology. I’ve seen the Nutrition Society. We have you, and it’s a testimony to the re-emergence of Kano as a bustling, vibrant city that’s peaceful and also an intellectual hub.”
Sanusi advised SSANU members to endeavour to patronise markets in the state and spend some of their money to contribute to Kano’s economy.
He also said he looked forward to receiving from the association any indication of how he could be of help.
Speaking earlier, the National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim Haruka, recalled the contributions of the Emir to universities during his tenure as CBN governor.
Ibrahim said, “We have decided to come to the palace after receiving positive reports, progressive reports about the peace and tranquillity within this domain.”
He further said, “We have people from the east, from the west, from all parts of Nigeria. Testimonies abound that your hands are clear, and your work speaks volumes about what you have done in developing education in Nigeria.
“And that is why we felt that we could not come to Kano and do our meetings without coming to pay homage to you, to also seek the royal blessings from you.”
The SSANU President said the meeting will look at the educational development and the setbacks facing it, adding that it has been realised that “the kind of graduates that we produce naturally find it difficult to fit in when they leave the precincts of the universities.”
