Barely six months after its advent, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda said his administration has successfully completed the rehabilitation of 361 public schools, across Katsina State.
Disclosing this at the 7th and 8th Combined Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University Dutsinma yesterday, he said the renovation projects are worth over N2 billion.
Reaffirming his commitment to revamping Katsina’s education sector, Governor Radda explained that his administration recently employed over 7,000 thousand teachers.
“We have also approved the contract for the construction of 75 secondary schools across the state, under the AGILE Program funded by the World Bank,” he said. He disclosed that his administration also resolved to establish three special model schools in Katsina senatorial district, to allow talented children from less privileged families access quality education.
Radda further explained that his administration is worried about the Out-of-School dhildren crisis in the state, hence it is taking every assiduous steps to tackle it with the support of relevant stakeholders.
While congratulating a former Governor of the State, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema, for being among the personalities conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the university, Governor Dikko Radda urged the graduands to remain true ambassadors of their alma mater.
Earlier, Chancellor of the university, King Dandeson Jaja of Opobo, complained that the federal government-owned school is battling security challenges, saying the main campus of the institution, located about 25 kilometers from the temporary campus, is a volatile area prone to the attacks of bandits and kidnappers.
“Our university has not been utilizing several structures and other vital classroom facilities at the main campus, due to the menace of banditry,” he added.
On his part, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, said the university graduated 4,365 students, out of which 112 bagged a first class (honours) degree and 1,131 got various second class degrees.
This, he said, was in addition to 401 post-graduate students, out of which 11 obtained PhD and 168 passed out with academic masters, alongside with 73 others who obtained professional diploma, among others.
The highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of doctorate degrees on Ex-Governor Shema, the Emir of Daura, Alh. Faruq Umar Faruq, and his Bichi counterpart, Alh. Nasiru Ado Bayero.
