We will build KWASU to world class standard
Professor Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah, Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Malete, in this interview on Radio Nigeria Harmony FM Idofin Guest of the Week Discussion Programe, dwells on sundry issues on the founding, funding and sustenance of the new University and the plans of its management, to ensure that it produces graduates of world class standard. Excerpts:
Who is Prof. Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah?
Thank you very much. My name is Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah. I was born in llorin in Ita Ogunbo. My compound name is lle-Ongolu. My grand father was called Muhammed Golu. He was a Gold dealer and llorin people at that time called him by that name. I was born here in Ilorin and I attended primary schools here. Initially, I started from Baboko but almost immediately I was transferred to Ansarul Islam Primary School. But I did not finish primary school here. I moved to Sokoto, where I attended Demonstration Primary School very close to Sultan Abubakar College and Sokoto Teachers College. After my primary education, I went on to Birnin Yawuri where I attended Teachers Training College. I did my Grade II Teachers College there. Later I moved to llorin, I started teaching at Ansarul Islam Primary School, the same primary school I attended. I taught there for some years before I proceeded to the University of llorin for my Degree. My first Degree was in English Education. I served here at the University of Ilorin and started working with my teachers at that time. Eventually I became a lecturer at the University of llorin. I taught there for a number of years before I moved to the University of Alberta in Canada where I did my Ph.D. Before I finished Ph.D, I moved to the United States of America. Just about the time I was concluding my Ph.D, there were a number of interest in some of my works which eventually resulted into my staying there. I have worked there for several years. My family still stays there. So, I was abroad for several years before I was asked to come and become the Vice Chancellor of the new Kwara State University.
Can you tell us how you became the Vice Chancellor of KWASU. Were there challenges from other applicants?
I just see this as the work of God because there were thousands of people that are equally qualified to become the Vice Chancellor of KWASU. Nigeria is a huge country. Kwara State is equally huge to an extent. To therefore be chosen as the best candidate for the position by the Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki and the Governing Council of the Institution, it was a humble gesture.
Many people are claiming ignorance of the take-off of KWASU; why is it so?
Well, it is quite interesting, but it could be so because we believe in action; we believe in making things work for us; we believe in the thorough processes in which the foundation of the University ought to be laid. May be we have not been making too much noise. But I can assure you that Nigerian youths know that our University is up. Just last year December in The Guardian Newspaper of December 7 or 27 on the back page, it was reported there that one of the most visited sites in Nigeria by Nigerians was KWASU Website. This was Google survey. This informs us that Nigerian youths are very much aware of our University. Many of them are visiting our site and the other sites listed by that survey were Yahoo, Facebook. Imagine we were just few months old, and our site was rated the most visited in 2009. This means people are indeed aware of our take-off. This shows that we have started programmes that are very interesting to them.
Now that the University has taken-off, how far?
Yes, how far so far. Thanks to God. Thanks to the Government of this State. Thanks to His Excellency, Governor Bukola Saraki and the House of Assembly; the Ministry of Education; the Governing Council, all working hard to put the University on a solid foundation. We have gone a very long way. We have recruited lecturers from all over the world. We have in place students who are about 550. This is our first set; the pioneer students. We actually started in December last year. We started lecturers in December last year and very soon the first semester examination will commence. To be specific, first semester examinations will start by April 6. That tells you that a lot of work has been going on at KWASU. You see, the kind of activities we have been doing will include people from different parts of the world visiting KWASU. We had guest who came from Boston University in the United States, people from Harvard University in the United States who have given lectures. We are open to the entire community. We have people from llorin, from the University of llorin and from other Universities across the country. Many of these people have been to our campus and have been participating in different activities we have been doing on campus.
You have been quoted in several quarters that you are creating a first class University. How realizable is this? Is it in terms of infrastructural development, academic development or what?
Well, all of the above. It was actually the Governor of Kwara State that set the vision. This was not just a vision of the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University. He said he was determined to establish a world class University, with all its meaning. This means the academic programme, the curriculum, the environment, the infrastructure would be world class, including the electronic technology. In KWASU, we are ICT intensive. Our academic staff must be world class. Our vision is that we intend to develop global citizens in terms of students. We are working seriously to ensure that out University can perfectly be compared to other world class University all over the world.
How about the problem of Funding?
Well, in the wisdom of the Government, the law establishing the University had stated clearly the funding pattern. Especially in this first year, the parents, the government, both the state and the local government councils, the stakeholders are all contributing. The way the law provides it, the state government is to contribute certain percentage, the local government will also be contributing certain percent and the parents are also called upon to support. But we are not stopping there. We realize that the University is not a venture for government only. Even the private University anywhere in the world mobilizes its community, including government for assistance. So what we are doing at KWASU is this. We set up structures, including the Centre for Sponsorship and Sponsored projects. We are really working hard, with every lecturer encouraged to look for anywhere in the world where funding opportunities might be, focusing on different areas of academic and community research. The State government gives us subvention regularly which goes into salaries and other areas. We are determined to continue to work and collaborate with organizations, Universities, Foundations and so on to support KWASU.
How many campuses is the University operating and why multiple campuses?
Well, it is the determination of the government to operate three campuses, namely Malete, Osi and llesha Baruba. But right now we are starting at Malete campus. We started with five Colleges: the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences; College of Education; College of Information and Communication Technology; College of Humanities Management and Social Sciences and College of Pure and Applied Sciences. These are the five Colleges we are starting with and all of them are in Malete. According to the government, the College of Agriculture will be at llesha Baruba and Humanities in Osi.
Why the Multi Campus System?
Well, I can say it is the government concern and desire for development, to ensure that education is taken to the grassroots. You will see that all these locations are rural areas. So, there is a desire obvious by the government to open up our rural areas. This will, to a very larger extent, enable the whole world to benefit from and which will also in turn benefit from the global reach that the University will provide.
Peoie tend to think that your fees are on the high side for a state University. Does this have to do with making KWASU a unique University?
I will like to remind you of a Yoruba adage which says “Obe to dun owo lo pa.” If you want something good, you have to spend for it. I can assure you that our people are willing and ready to pay the fees, if you can assure them that you are indeed providing them the best. If you let them understand that you are developing their children to become employers but not parasite on the community. If you let them know that you are actually establishing the place that will change the society for the better. I understand that many parents do send their children to elementary schools where they are paying up to N300, 000, and N200, 000 in this our state. Well, KWASU is not even charging as much as that. The tuition fee is One hundred thousand and other supplementary fee is fifty thousand naira. Altogether, it is One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira. Meanwhile, the state is absolutely subsiding for students because if you look at what the National Universities Commission is saying, it is triple of what we ask them to pay now. So what we are charging shows that the government is indeed subsidizing. The state is paying the lecturers’ salary and building the infrastructures. We are ICT intensive. We are spending so much on this by providing free internet on campus for both the students and staff.
There are some social vices that have bedeviled our tertiary institutions in this county, like cultism and indecent dressing. How are you preparing to curtail this menace?
The University is making sure that we have zero tolerance for indiscipline. We are mobilizing regularly, to let them know that if we notice any semblance of indiscipline we promptly, swiftly and instantly take action. We have, in the code of conduct for students, enumerated different kinds of regulations on dressing. Besides, we are lucky as a University because we are learning from what is happening in various campuses across the country. Because we know that is going on there, we are able to set up policy and regulations that will ensure that KWASU is peaceful and also to ensure that the fundamental principle of KWASU is realized.
Now that you are operating at Malete, what is your relationship with the people of Malete?
We have a slogan which is our guiding principle. If you go to our website, you find it there. The slogan is the University for Community Development and we mean every word of it because we believe that it is the responsibility of the University to develop, mobilize and empower the community towards meeting their basic needs. In essence, we are very close to the Malete people and the community at large. Also, I will like to use this medium to thank most sincerely all the Malete people because they received us with open hands. The Daodu, the Magaji, Malete Descendants Association and the entire people of Malete for giving us the necessary cooperation and support we needed. They are constantly on our campus to witness most of the things we have been doing. During the maiden matriculation ceremony, the Daodu brought all his people to be part of the historical event.
Do you reside in Malete?
Well, the Vice Chancellor’s lodge is not yet built but there is a process to erect it any moment from now. There is no other way to it. The Vice Chancellor must reside there in Malete. Nevertheless, we have lecturers that reside on campus now and that is the way is going to be. Our own is not about slogan alone, but about action. We intend to ensure that every citizen of Malete have direct feel of the University; to ensure that the agricultural activity of ordinary people benefit from the University; to ensure that the way of life of the ordinary people is positively affected by the University; and to ensure that the town and gown is always together.
What advice do you have for your students and Nigerian youths at large?
My advice is for them to bear it at the back of their minds that they are Nigerians, and they are Africans. So, they must learn how to embrace Africa traditional values because being truthful to your traditional values has to do with who you are as a global person. You can have global reach but will ensure that your community, to ensure that your family is better, to ensure that the next person to you has a direct benefit from your existence. I will like to say that Nigeria has a need for young people who will move this nation forward. At KWASU, we are determined to empower out students to be among those leaders that will change this country for the better.
Well, on a lighter note, how will you compare life in America and Malete?
Anywhere you are in the world is really about you and the best you can make of it. Over there, there is high technology but here is more peaceful in tMalete people provide. It is exciting. I am enjoying it everyday.
