Dr Abbas Abubakar, the Executive Secretary, Jigawa Agency for Mass Education, has made a case for the establishment of more tertiary institutions in Jigawa.
Abubakar spoke on Monday in Birnin Kudu, during an orientation programme for indigenes of Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, who secured admissions into various universities across the country.
The programme was organised by Birnin Kudu Progressive Forum (BPF).
He said that there was need for the establishment of more federal, state and private tertiary institutions in Jigawa.
“Currently, there are over 100 federal, state and private universities or tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“However, majority of these institutions are in the southern part of the country.
“In Kano, we have only Northwest University and Bayero University and in Jigawa, we have only Sule Lamido University and Federal University, Dutse.
“This disparity is also evident in the area of polytechnics, colleges of education and monotechnics.
“So, what is worth noting here is that there are many of our children from the North who qualify for entry into these institutions, but are not enrolled due to shortage of such institutions.
“Every year, a large number of students complete their secondary school education and have all the requirements to be enrolled in tertiary institutions, but very few of them secure admissions.
“Why? Because there are not enough institutions to absorb them all,’’ Abubakar lamented.
He noted that there was a need for Federal Universities of Agriculture, Federal Colleges of Education, Federal Colleges of Technical Education and Monotechnics in Jigawa.
The educationist further stressed the need for wealthy individuals in the state to assist government by establishing private institutions.
He said that this would make tertiary education available and easily accessible to students of the state origin.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum, Malam Bala Ibrahim, said that the orientation programme was organised to educate successful candidates on how best to conduct themselves in their respective institutions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the candidates were educated on how to go about collecting admission letters and registering at the central, departmental and association level.
The candidates were also educated on attendance of lectures, use of the library, and life on the campus.
They were also taught the use of students’ handbook, clinic, cafeteria, sports complex, among others. (NAN)
