Niger State Governor, Mallam Umar Bago has rejected subsidy for education saying it will reduce the quality of learning in the schools.
Bago also stressed the need for higher institutions to offer more vocational training than degree qualifications, saying that opportunities for short-term vocational training should be created for candidates who cannot obtain degree qualifications.
The governor stated this when the management and staff of the New Gate University paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House Minna.
Bago, however, stressed that the best students should be identified and given scholarships as encouragement.
Governor Bago expressed dismay over the insufficient medical practitioners in the state, noting that the government is determined to encourage those who want to study medical-related causes.
“We are poised to see that we change that imbalance. We need to give incentives, we need to give encouragement to people and children who want to go into medicine or medical-related courses.
“We are considering a bond arrangement where 50% percent scholarship will be given to medical students and they will sign a pact to work for the state government for some years before going to other places,” he said.
He called on stakeholders in education to think out of the box by taking advantage of technology to encourage e-learning.
“Nature has a way of putting everybody into his position, so let us encourage vocational training even at the level of the university, short term courses on how to fix phones, repair computers, how to service barbing machines, fix microphones can be introduced and it will change our thinking and Psyche because we need more people in this category than those with degrees,” he said.
The governor urged the Management of the New Gate University to engage Public Private Partnerships in carrying out infrastructural development in the institutions, considering renewable energy as an alternative source of power and investments that would bring growth and development to the institution.
He commended the founder of the University for establishing the institution and assured that his administration will continue to come up with policies and programmes that would encourage him and others to make Niger State an academic city.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Yusuf Sadiq highlighted the importance of prioritising the education of young people as they are agents of positive change and the future of society.
He said the university has partnered with a Foundation for a 50% tuition scholarship to all qualified candidates from 25 local government areas of the state adding that 120 students are already benefiting from it.
Prof. Sadiq also said the Pro-Chancellor has agreed to pay 100% scholarships to the best students in public schools within the Minna metropolis regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.
He said the institution offer causes such as ICT, cyber security, and medical-related causes among others, and expressed confidence that the University would produce graduates that would be of benefit to the state.
The V.C. then called on the Governor to honour government support in the area of security, adequate power supply, conducive learning environment for the students.
The delegation of the New Gate University was led by the Pro-Chancellor, Nuhu Hassan.
