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Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has launched the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund of the Nigerian Legion, Niger State Chapter.
The governor presided over the launch of the emblem at the Council Chamber of the Niger State Government House, Minna.
The governor, who acknowledged the numerous sacrifices made by the ex-servicemen to protect the sovereignty of the nation, where some paid the supreme price, said the emblem lunch was significant and the fallen heroes must be remembered.
He noted that security was at the top of his government's priorities, adding that collective effort was required from all and sundry to achieve it.
Governor Bago said the state will bring in members of the Nigerian Legion to train the vigilantes and forest guards, among other non-conventional security agencies, to make them more effective.
He assured the Nigerian Legion of his administration's unflinching support.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, Niger State Chapter, Mal. Mamuda Baba Ahmed, explained that the annual celebration of Armed Forces Remembrance Day was to pay tribute to all the fallen heroes who fought tirelessly and paid the ultimate price for the peace and unity of the country.
He commended the sterling leadership qualities of the farmer governor, assuring that the Nigerian Legion will contribute its quota for the governor to achieve his "New Niger" agenda.
The chairman then appealed to the government, individuals, corporate organisations, philanthropists, and religious bodies for support to enable them to care for their welfare and the families of the fallen heroes.
He also requested office accommodation and an operational vehicle to convey security operatives to their duty posts.
Governor Umaru Bago, his deputy, Yakubu Garba, and all elected and appointed officeholders launched the emblem with a cumulative sum of N20 million, even as a minute of silence was observed in honour of the fallen heroes.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said on Wednesday that the University of Agriculture and Climate Change, Mokwa, as well as the University of Technology and Innovation, Zungeru, will soon come on board.
The governor disclosed this during the inauguration of a sixteen-member governing council of the newly established Engr. A. A. Kure University of Education at Government House, Minna.
At the event, the governor said his administration will give priority to education, described the event as historic, and thanked the members for accepting to key into the "New Niger" vision.
The governor, who assured the board members that funding has already been secured for the take-off of the university, said a committee was already in place to look at the funding necessities needed for the continuous development of the institution.
He said the university of education located in Minna will soon be transformed into a conventional one to have fields like medicine, aviation, science and technology, and climate change studied at the institution.
He said scholarships will be introduced for all students in public schools who obtain five credits, including English and mathematics at their level, to study at the university.
He also said the decision to invest heavily in the IBBU Lapai Teaching Hospital was to serve all universities within the state that are going to be offering medicine and other medical science-related courses.
Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, who is the pro-Chancellor of the new university of education, said the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved all 41 programmes submitted.
He said 14 of them will be implemented in the 2023–2024 academic session, and admission will soon commence, while others will follow subsequently.
The Pro-Chancellor said NUC has approved a 3,000 admission quota for the institution, and that has been communicated to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for immediate admission processes.
He said the governor's support was key to the completion of developing academic briefs for the 14 programmes.
He described Governor Bago as a visionary leader and commended his support in making their task of developing the academic briefs easy.
The sixteen-member Board Council of A.A. Kure University of Education has Prof. Kuta Yahaya as Pro-Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Aliyu Paiko as Vice-Chancellor, and Prof. Tsado Jacob as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Others are Dr. Garba Abdullahi as Registrar, Hajiya Hajara Kuso as Bursar, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi as Director Academic Planning, Garba Muhammad Shambo as Librarian 1, and Maryam Suloboyi as Librarian 2.
Those who will serve as council members are Haijya Kere Ahmed, Muhammad Dattijo Usman, Barrister Abbas Bello, Hajiya Hassana Adamu, Abdullahi Lawal Maikano, Hamidu Jantabo Mu'azu, and Abdullahi Adamu Mamagi.
Appointment letters were presented to them even as the Pro-Chancellor made a symbolic presentation of the accredited programmes to the Farmer Governor.
