THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY (KWASU)

WRITER: OLAYINKA ALAYA TOPIC: It is not an exaggeration that the Kwara State University (KWASU), Located in Malete, a suburb of Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, has become one of the fastest growing Universities in Nigeria both in academic excellence and Community Development. The University was established with the aim of providing more opportunities for Nigerians, particularly Kwarans desirous to acquire varsity education and to generate high level man-power that were so vital for the rapidly expanding economy. The journey towards establishing a State University in Kwara State was made on the eleventh of July, 2007 barely two months into the commencement of his second term in office, when Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki inaugurated a Technical Committee under the former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, who is now the Senator representing Kwara North at the National Assembly to prepare grounds for the establishment of the Kwara State University. When that Committee completed its assignment in December, 2007, an Implementation Committee under the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, was constituted on the fifteenth of January, 2008 to draw up the curriculum and prepare the masterplan for the University. The government subsequently sent a bill on the proposed Kwara State University to the State House of Assembly which was passed after series of deliberations. The Bill of the Kwara State University was therefore signed into law on the twenty fourth of December, 2008. The Governor alongside members of the Implementation Committee obtained the certificate and instrument to operate the University on the ninth of February, 2009 from the National Universities Commission (NUC). Thus, Kwara State University became the 34th State and the 95thUniversity in Nigeria. The Implementation Committee was converted to the Interim Governing Council by Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki on the fourteenth of April, 2009 to conduct the exercise for the recruitment of principal officers for the University. The pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, who until his appointment, was Chair of the African American Studies Department of the Western Illinois University, Macomb, United States of America, assumed office on Monday, twenty seventh of July, 2009. Immediately the Committee completed its assignment in December, 2007, an Implementation Committee under the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, was constituted on the fifteenth of January, 2008 to draw up the curriculum and prepare the master plan for the University. However, the University currently has staff strength of seven hundred and sixteen. This figure is made up of three hundred and eight Academic staff and four hundred and eight Non-Academic staff. The student’s population as at the beginning of the 2012/2013 academic session stands at four thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight. The University commenced academic session in December, 2009 with the vision to be foremost in expanding the frontiers of knowledge and be most innovative in disseminating knowledge towards advancing the cause of humanity. It also has in its mission to be the fulcrum of a knowledge-driven society, building human competence and fostering determination and completion among people through the instrumentality of modern technology. It is gratifying to note that in less than four years of its establishment, Kwara State University has recorded remarkable achievements in different areas. Recently, the University was granted accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in all the twenty four courses that were presented for accreditation. This represents one hundred percent accreditation of all courses presented for accreditation. A few of them are at the level of being fully accredited. In less than four years of its establishment, Kwara State University has recorded remarkable achievements in different areas. Recently, the University was granted accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in all the twenty four courses that were presented for accreditation. This represent one hundred percent accreditation of all courses presented for accreditation. A few of them are at an interim level. According to the 2013 Webometrics ranking of Nigeria Universities, KWASU is ranked thirty sixth out of the one hundred and twenty one Universities in Nigeria. This indeed, is a monumental achievement for a university that was established less than four years ago. Today, the University is celebrating the graduation of its first set of students, who had passed through rigorous training practically and theoretically, they have performed excellently under extreme pressure and rigorous condition which make the University to vouch for them both in learning and character. This, indeed, represent the principle of skills and integrity which is the motto of the University. Giving the breakdown of the Statistics of the graduands at Pre-Convocation Press briefing, the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, said the Senate approved the graduation of two hundred and thirty one Students, with five first Class students, fifty nine Second Class Upper, One hundred and forty five Lower Class and twenty two third Class. Highlighting, some of the achievements recorded within the three and a half years, the Vice Chancellor said the University is waxing stronger, partnering with different organizations and universities within and outside the country, noting that the University the establishment of Malete Film Village, the first of its kind in Nigeria and the appointment of a veteran actress, Ms Joke Siva as the Pioneer Managing Director is another milestone in the history of the University. according to him , the Malete Film Village would serve as an avenue to train aspiring artists and actresses for the Nigeria Nollywood to compete favourably with its counterparts in Hollywood and Bollywood. The University, also established Tourism Village to serve as an avenue to tap the untapped potential tourism benefits of the State. In view of this, the University had recruited a renowned tourist from the United States to head its tourism department and sent some of its staff to Thailand to acquire training. This is highly commendable. As the University convoked its first set of students who had passed through rigorous training both practically and theoretically, the State Governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed has left nobody in doubt that he is prepared to take up the challenge of taking the Institution to the next level. Governor Ahmed demonstrated this when he laid the foundation of eight hundred and ten million naira College of Engineering and Technology complex at the Institution all with the aim of bringing the University closer to a world class. It is believed, however that with the appointment of seasoned academics in the University, such as the Vice Chancellor, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah and the Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Gambari as well as respectable Professors, the University would attain the greatest heights, and will compete with others across the world. The Kwara State University, Malete, has been the citadel of learning and ready to train Nigerians by developing the capacity to take a close look at its environment by proffering solutions to its myriad problems. These laudable achievements recorded made President Goodluck Jonathan to commend the founder, Management and Staff of the University for starting on a sound footing, noting that the Institution has started with good structures. Well meaning Nigerians, Philanthropists and Organizations should therefore partner with the Institution in its development drive. Olayinka Alaya is a Kwara State based journalist Writes via yeancahalaya@yahoo.com