By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Vice Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Professor Abdullahi A.Zuru at the weekend said the institution would continue to sustain its objective of ensuring academic excellence with vigour for positive results.
” We have annually recorded high number of admission requests because of our trackk record of peace, high moral, values and absence of cultism which the institution is known for since inception 43 years ago”, he stressed.
Professor Zuru made the remark at the 2017/2018 matriculation ceremony for 5,325
newly admitted students for various Postgraduate and Degree programmes across12 faculties of the institution.
He said the institution had made it a cardinal policy to prioritise it’s admission for sciences and science related programmes to further strengthen its drive for achieving academic excellence in such spheres.
” This has launched the university on the path of positive mark and outcomes over the years.
” Today, we are witnessing the matriculation of 5,325 out of 10,000 UTME & DE candidates who applied for admission into the university”, he pointed out.
The Vice Chancellor however, disclosed that the university had recorded 94% excellent performance in the NUC 2014 and 2016 accreditation exercise.
” Not lessthan 48 programmes of the university had been fully accredited with only 3 newly introduced with interim accreditation”, Zuru pointed.
Professor Zuru reminded the newly admitted students of the hurdles ahead to achieve excellence, describing hard work, strict adherence to rules and regulations, personal discipline, high moral standard and respect for constituted authorities among others as requiste features to determine their drive for success.
” You must also not indulge in examination misconduct and other socially negative activities as cultism, sexual harassment, theft, drug abuse and other social vices.
” You must shun violence, political intolerance, bigotry, extremism, ethnicity and religious prejudice bacause penalties for these negative and anti-social behaviours are clearly spelt out in the students handbook”, he warned.
Earlier, Comrade Ibrahim Shehu Kalgo, President SUG, who called on the matriculating students to be worthy ambassadors of their respective families by shunning all negative behaviours especially drug abuse, cultism, corruption and intolerance, noted the giant academic strides of the university for its positive shift from 49th to 15th position in the rank of national universities as rated by NUC.
Also, Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Aminu Mode congratulated the students whom he urged to be proud students of the most peaceful university.
Professor Mode said, the university was established to encourage and promote the ideals of value addition and intellectual scholarship.
” It is certain that you will have to go through personal, academic, financial and emotional challenges through the path of your journey.
” You have to adapt to measure up with the sustained academic excellence record of the University which has made adequate provision for effective and efficient security for students”, he said.
