… As Defence Minister Inaugurates Staff Accommodation
By Chidiebere Ugwu
The Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB) has conferred first degrees in diverse disciplines on 417 graduates of the University in its maiden convocation ceremony held at the University’s Main Campus, Biu, Borno State, on Saturday 28 October 2023.
According to a statement by Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, the nascent citadel of learning located in the Southern region of Borno in North East Nigeria, began its modest journey as a tertiary institution on 30th October 2018 and matriculated its first set of students on 18 February 2019, into five faculties of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Computing, Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Technology, as well as Natural and Applied Sciences.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is equally the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University felicitated with the graduands, urging them to be good brand ambassadors of the institution and to positively exploit the opportunities that abound in the country.
The Pro-Chancellor also disclosed that by establishing the Nigerian Army University Biu, the Army adopted the strategic option of exploring a non-kinetic approach to its counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria.
“We sought to achieve social inclusion, gender balance and expand diversity through education”, he clarified.
Gen Lagbaja asserted, that the emergence and growth of the institution in the heart of the North East, an area, which he said was until recently, bedeviled by violence and insecurity, is a testament to the successes the Nigerian military have collectively achieved in the counter-insurgency efforts.
“Today, the graduands are a testament to our bravery, courage, and determination, inspite of the security challenges, to groom youths that would become solution providers and self-reliant in addressing some of the challenges of our dear nation”.
In his address, the University Chancellor, His Royal Majesty, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Delta State noted that siting the University in Biu has brought and will continue to bring development to the community.
He enjoined the graduands to strive to be entrepreneurial in their post graduation endeavours, rather than seeking white collar jobs. “You should be employers of labour”, the Chancellor advised.
The Royal father commended the Vice Chancellor, management, staff and students of the University for their individual and collective roles in moving the institution in the right direction.
Rendering the summary of Honorary Awardees and graduating students by class of degree, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kyari Mohammed affirmed the award of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa to HRM Maj Gen Felix Mujakperuo (rtd) and Doctor of Letters to Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Republic of Benin and former Chief of Army Staff. Prof Kyari declared that 20 graduands of the University made First Class, while 207 graduating students bagged Second Class Upper Division and 186 of the convocating students fell in the Second Class Lower Division. Four of the graduands made Third Class.
Highlights of the maiden convocation were the presentation of eponymous awards to students who graduated in flying colours.
Ibrahim Dorcas Kutawalang of the Department of Political Science emerged the overall best graduating student with cummulative Grade Point Average of 4.84 and carted away the Pro-Chancellor’s and Vice Chancellor’s Prizes, amongst other prized awards.
The Chief of Army Staff, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, commissioned 24 units of 2-bedroom flats donated by the Ministry of Defence.
Equally, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, represented by the Theatre Commander Operations Hadin Kai, Maj Gen Gold Chibuisi, inaugurated another set of 24 one-bedroom flats for staff of the institution. A Students’ Affairs building was also commissioned by the Chancellor.
