Garba Takes Over as Vice Chancellor Sokoto State University

Abdulfatai Abdulsalami, Sokoto

Professor Bashir Garba, MFR, has assumed duty and taken over as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Sokoto State University, Sokoto (SSU), from Professor Sani Mohammed Dangoggo, whose five years tenure has come to an end on May 5, 2022.

This was announced in a statement signed and issued to newsmen by the Spokesperson of the University, Zayyanu Shehu.

The statement added that the handing over ceremony took place on Thursday, 5th May, 2022, at the Umaru Ali Shinkafi Senate Building of the University.

Prof. Bashir Garba was on Tuesday, 26th April, 2022, appointed Vice-Chancellor by the Visitor to the University, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR (Mutawallen Sokoto), Governor, Sokoto state, following the recommendation of the University Governing Council.

While taking over the mantle of leadership, the new Vice-Chancellor expressed his willingness to further make the University an enviable institution by consolidating on the solid foundation laid by his predecessors.

“Service to humanity remains my passion. Therefore, I will do everything humanly possible with your support and with Allah (SWT) as our guide and director to take this institution to greater heights by building upon the already existing foundation laid by my predecessors and other stakeholders”, Prof. Garba, enthused.

He said the confidence reposed in him by the authority of the University and the Sokoto state government would be justified, as all efforts would be geared towards executing programmes and actions aimed at fulfilling the core mandates of establishing a university, that is teaching, research and community service.

Prof. Garba appreciated the efforts of Prof. Dangoggo and members of his management team for the achievements recorded by the University under their watch.

He enumerated some of the areas his administration would pay more attention to, which include, but are not limited to the following, completion of the staff quarters, staff school, guest house, and additional student hostels.

” In addition to all these achievements, attention would still be focused on the areas of academic activities, such as research, teaching, and community service. He further reiterated his readiness to ensure full accreditation for the whole programmes of the University, which would be conducted by the National Universities Commission in few months to come”.

Speaking earlier, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S. M. Dangoggo, welcomed Prof. Garba to the University and gave a highlight of some of the achievements recorded during his tenure.

Prof. Dangoggo was quoted as saying that in the area of academic activities, the University achieved a lot, such as full accreditation for all the 23 programmes presented to the National Universities Commission in the year 2017, approval for the commencement of 16 additional undergraduate programmes, the establishment of postgraduate programmes, spilliting of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences into Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social and Management Science.

The Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies has also been unbundled into the Department of Arabic and the Department of Islamic Studies.

He added that a lot has been achieved in the area of infrastructure, where he mentioned some of the projects executed by the present administration in the state, under the able leadership of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR (Mutawallen Sokoto) that include 60 no. offices complex for the academic staff, Inuwa Abdul-kadir University Library, drainages, and landscaping.

This is in addition to other services provided by the state government. He further added that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has also carried out many developmental projects and provided services to the University.

Regarding the issue of study fellowship, he disclosed that the Sokoto government, TETFUnd, and PTDF have sponsored many staff to undergo Master’s degrees and PhDs in and outside the country. The Fund has so far constructed the Faculties of Science and Education and many more, while the construction of the faculty of Engineering, Agriculture, and Centre for the Study of the Sokoto Caliphate and Postgraduate School has commenced.

Prof. Dangoggo further expressed his appreciation to the Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto; Chancellor, HRH Alh. (Dr.) Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, CON; Members of the University Governing Council; Ministry for Higher education; Management and staff for their support, patience, and understanding during his five years tenure as Vice-Chancellor.

He similarly appreciated other partners in progress such as gentlemen of the press, security agents, and other stakeholders.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of parting gifts to the immediate past Vice-Chancellor by the members of the University community.