By Haruna Salami
Former Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, alongside other stakeholders in the state, has expressed support for the Senate’s proposal to convert Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, into a conventional university.
Yuguda and other supporters made their positions known at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to gather stakeholders’ views on the proposed legislation.
The hearing, chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina), was convened to receive inputs and perspectives from relevant stakeholders on the bill seeking to amend the university’s enabling Act.
In his presentation, Yuguda argued that opposition to the conversion would be unfair to the people of Bauchi State and surrounding communities, given the challenges faced by students seeking to study courses not currently offered by the institution.
According to him, “Anyone who is against converting the university to a conventional one is not being fair.
“I know what I went through to ensure ATBU started running medicine. Today, we have over 100 medical doctors. And now people sit here and say it should not be a conventional university?
“I studied economics and accounting. If economics is not offered at ATBU, why shouldn’t I advocate for its inclusion?
“There are many science, arts and social science courses that are not currently being offered but are needed,” he said.
However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ATBU branch, expressed opposition to the proposed amendment. The branch chairman, Haruna Angulu, said the union’s stance was clearly outlined in its position paper submitted to the committee.
“Our position is very clear. At a time when the world is becoming more technology-driven, what is required is increased funding to strengthen and make the existing specialised university of technology more effective, rather than converting it into a conventional university,” he stated.
Angulu added that ATBU is the only university of technology in the North-East, stressing the importance of preserving its specialised status.
