By Sunday Iduh & Faith Igbudu
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said education holds the key to all the challenges confronting humanity.
He stated this during the 18th-21st combined convocation and 30th anniversary celebration of Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi where he also installed the 5th Chancellor of the institution.
“Your Excellencies, distinguished guests there is no gainsaying that education remains the all-time solution to the myriad of challenges facing mankind.
“The denial of education is largely responsible for the 80 percent of the challenges we face as a country, whether it is the Herder-terrorist attack on farming communities, banditry, or Boko Haram, among others.
The governor acknowledged the feat of the university in the last 30 years. “The university has within the last 30-years trained students in novel programmes that have only added not values to humanity but have also grown in leaps and bounds in terms of scholarship and research, infrastructure development, social impact and collaboration”, he said
Governor Ortom disclosed that his administration has sustained its support to the university.
“Let me place on record that in consonance with our stakeholder’s role, the government of Benue State has provided interventions aimed at fast-tracking the holistic development of the university, key among them include sustained financial support and placement of the university on first-line charge which make staff of the university to receive their salaries before any other in the state.
“In pursuance of the university’s vision to be the university of first choice in Nigeria and Africa, and among the top 200 in the world, my government has bequeathed three critical assets to the institution, namely: the Makurdi Zoological Garden, J.S Tarka Foundation, and the defunct Agricultural Development Company (ADC)”, he added.
The governor, while assuring the university of the continued support of his government in its drive towards attainment of the objectives of the founding fathers of the university, charged intellectuals and the management of the university to explore the full potentials of the assets to enhance research and economic fortunes of the institution and the state at large.
He congratulated the newly installed Chancellor of the university, His Gracious Majesty, (Barr) Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel II, the Paramount Ruler of Abonnema Kingdom in Rivers State and expressed optimism that he will give the right leadership and guidance to the institution.
Earlier in his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Tor Iorapuu appreciated the visitor of the university for standing by it.
He said actions like inclusion of earned allowance for staff of the university and also putting the university on front line charge are remarkable events that have made the university a high flier competing favourably with federal universities.
He said as one leading the university management, he is also towing the same line to ensure that the academic ground is in top form.
Iorapuu commended all Benue sons and daughters for their numerous and tireless contributions to the advancement of education in the institution.