Re: Illegality of PMB’s honour at KASU

I read the article of one Dr. Jibrin Imran from Santa Clara County in the Daily Trust Newspaper of Monday December 16, 2015 and I wish to make the following comments: I believed that, Dr. Jibrin is one of those that are sincerely interested in following up activities in the academic world in Nigeria, but […]

I read the article of one Dr. Jibrin Imran from Santa Clara County in the Daily Trust Newspaper of Monday December 16, 2015 and I wish to make the following comments: I believed that, Dr. Jibrin is one of those that are sincerely interested in following up activities in the academic world in Nigeria, but are being beclouded by certain stereotypes, hence are prone to jetting out familiar vibes even if in a cut and paste manner without cross checking the facts.
Let me begin by making it clear that, the Keffi Declaration is by no means a law and that the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) is not a Regulatory Agency, but an association of willing members of which Kaduna State University (KASU) is one. The declaration was meant to control the award of Honourary Doctorate Degrees to undeserving individuals particularly those who had just assumed political office or were Visitors to their Universities but without previous measurable achievements, to control the frequency of awards, and to control the number of awardees per convocation.
These were the basis for the Declaration.
Secondly, the only Regulating Agency saddled with making regulations for universities is the National Universities Commission (NUC) and it publishes from time to time universities that have postgraduate schools of which KASU is clearly one . This, Dr. Jibrin needs to check properly with the NUC.
Thirdly, the award of a Honourary Degree involves an offer from a university and acceptance from the awardee. The awarded reserves the right to accept or not to. I understand Dr. Jibrin’s sentiment; KASU is a small university of just eleven (11) years; unfortunately he needs to visit KASU to know what it is now worth.
From my investigation and from what the visitor recently pronounced about the Vice Chancellor and the University, the Vice Chancellor, who is a forthright person has never been queried by anybody for that matter.
Also,the President is a man of honour and integrity who has achieved so much before now and this was made clear as the reason for the award during the convocation.
I therefore wish to observe as follows: That there is no breach of law of any kind as the Keffi Declaration is not a law and AVCNU is not a Regulatory Agency. Even though the Declaration seeks to discourage the award of Honorary Degrees during the period of service of an officer, it does not answer the question of if someone had distinguish himself previously but suddenly finds himself in an office; whether he or she is qualified for an award based on previous achievements as in this case. Clearly the spirit of the declaration was not intended to stop such individuals.
The question of when a university gives a degree is the business of the University.
The Kaduna State University was duly approved by the NUC to run postgraduate courses, Dr. Jibrin can verify from NUC. Infact, the first set of postgraduate students has graduated. Hence Kaduna State University is eminently qualified to award the Degree.
The truth of the matter is that, Dr. Jibrin feels that KASU, when compared with other “better qualified” universities, is too small to do this. Any way when next he is in Nigeria he could visit KASU and see for life, the transformation going on there. I know this by virtue of being a visiting lecturer in KASU.
Kaduna State University duly made an offer to the President who accepted purely on his volition. The decision of the President should be respected by all and commended for coming down to the level of a small state university as a KASU as a mark of uttermost humility instead of lamenting. This show of humility is necessary even for Dr. Jibrin Imran.
My view is that the authorities of the State University should be highly commended for being bold to make an offer to the President who in turn had exhibited high sense of humility by accepting. The likes of Dr. Jibrin should not be in a hurry to condemn an action without obtaining the necessary facts as required of an academia.
Prof. Abdullahi G. Mohammed wrote this piece from No. 35, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kano