NAN-AE-6
Seedlings
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), July 20, 2017 (NAN) The 2016/2017 graduating students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have resolved to plant 3,000 orange seedlings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the public presentation of the initiative tagged “Legacy Project” took place on Thursday on the main campus of the university in Zaria.
The Chairman of ABU Governing Council, retired AVM Muktar Mohammed, who spoke on the occasion, lauded the students and university management for the initiative.
He said that the initiative would aid efforts to combat the growing menace desertification apart from creating job opportunities for the unemployed youth.
However, Mohammed urged the university management to install Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities at the institution.
“When the Vice-Chancellor briefed me this morning, I started to challenge him why are we not ICT-compliant despite the fact that we produce brilliant students.
“These students go out to show their knowledge, skills and abilities by winning competitions, even in advanced countries.
“I am sure our representatives always come back with laurels. However, for whatever we do, let it start from home,” he noted.
Mohammed stressed the need for students to work hard and discover things that would be useful to the university, saying that such innovations would be named after the persons who discovered them.
“One day, your grandchildren or great-grandchildren will come here and see what their grandparents or great-grandparents have done.
“That’s what leaving footsteps in the sand of time is all about,” he said.
Presenting a paper on “Legacy Project”, Prof. Tonnie Okpe of the Department of Fine Arts, said that the project was meant to promote generosity and philanthropy via awareness creation.
According to him, it targets former, present and future students in order to expand students’ experience, create students’ ambassadorship, promote professional networks and encourage lifelong relationships.
Okpe listed the building of robust alumni-based funds, raised through the alumni and friends, as one of the benefits of the project.
He said that the other benefits included provision of internship opportunities for students, preparing students for future careers and creating job opportunities.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, described the programme as a good innovation and something to be proud of.
“Certainly, we know for you students, this is not the best of times in any event where our alumni tend to bring back the old memories of the past.
“Sometimes, we lament and we don’t want that to put you off to think that all hope is lost; certainly, those glorious days were still there, this is your time.
“Your time now dictates that you must be part of giving yourself the comfort which you deserve; it is no longer time to wait for somebody to come and mentor you or give you comfort,’’ he added. (NAN)
KLM/OSA/OOK
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Edited by Shittu Obassa and Dayo Komolafe