Rep. of the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Prof. Zainab Dabo delivering her speech
The National Open University of Nigeria’s Staff School (NSS), Kaduna has held its 8th speech and prize giving day on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Kaduna.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe Musa, who was represented by the Director Consultancy Services, Kaduna State, appreciated the effort of the university in offering great projects to the people of the state.
She stated that she was not aware of the existence of a school like this displaying outstanding performance in the state.
On the importance of education, the deputy governor explained that education is paramount in the society because it is the bedrock of every developmental experience in the society.
She urged the parents not to rely hundred percent on the teachers for total education and good character upbringing of their children and wards.
She added that it is the responsibility of parents and school teachers to ensure that the children are well trained and equipped academically.
She therefore promised to table a request to the Kaduna State Government in order to extend their infrastructural gesture to the NOUN Staff School.
Musa appreciated the institution for providing a lasting solution to the education sector in the state as a corporate social responsibility.
Delivering the graduation speech, a former academic staff and the director of Kaduna and Gombe Study Centres of the university, Professor Nuhu Laurence Garba, congratulated all the prize winners and those who performed extraordinarily well.
He upheld that the celebration of the achievements should serve as a fulcrum for inspiration to those who may not have won prizes.
Garba substantially elucidated on the acquisition of skills as a compliment of academic excellence, stressing the need to put the uniqueness of today’s world in perspective as its going digital and skill-based knowledge is fast becoming a norm.
He observed that the major employer of labour is skills acquisition because industries are seeking for skilled labour.
“Skill is far more than what happened inside the four walls of the classroom, rather it encompasses academic, creative enterprising and sporting potentials of the pupils,” he added.
He therefore called for “the complementation of the certificate of our pupils by training them on skills development because the trend is by far changing globally.”
Garba appealed to the management of NOUN Staff School to introduce vocational courses that would practically provide and enhance the pupils’ skills.
“There is no better place to learn skills than the Centre for Human Resource Development which incidentally manages the NOUN Staff School
“The CHRD has all the necessary modern equipment and a host of collaborators that train youth in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development,” he said.
The former director appealed to the university management to increase its support for NOUN Staff School especially in the area of digitalization.
Earlier in his welcome address, the representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, and the Director, Centre for Human Resource Development, Dr. Aminu Umar welcomed the invited personalities and congratulated the pupils.
Cross-section of graduating pupils
He expressed that the NOUN Centre for Human Resource Development is the only centre outside the headquarters and saddled with the responsibility of providing Corporate Social Responsibility in the area of training of artisans in skills acquisition, fire service and a host of other services to serve Kaduna State and the country at large.
“Kaduna State is special to the National Open University of Nigeria in terms of corporate social responsibility delivery to the people,” he said.
He called on the people of the state to patronise National Open University of Nigeria as there were bountiful benefits and if effectively subscribed one may easily realise his potentials.
He appealed to the parents to be more reactive and proactive on the payment of their wards’ school fees.
The director appealed to the Government of Kaduna State to extend a helping hand, in the area infrastructural development, to the school by providing more infrastructure.
“In order to continue to provide quality education to the community, the management of the school is mulling the possibility of increasing school fees to enable the institution to improve its services to the required standard,” he said.
He promised to continue doing his best so as to ensure that the school produces the best among the best pupils.
Similarly, Dr. Sanusi Jibrin, the Chairman Parents Teachers Association of the School, who is also the Secretary, Kaduna State House of Assembly Service Commission, appreciated the effort of the school in providing standardised educational delivery to its pupils.
He further appreciated the effort of the centre director, Dr. Aminu Umar, and the university management as a whole for the Corporate Social Responsibility they are honouring the people with.
On the speech and price giving day celebration, he highlighted that it is an avenue for identifying innate potentials in the pupils.
He promised to do all he can to ensure prompt payment of school fees.
He re-emphasised the need for the adjustment in school fees as the current charges no longer cater for the day-to-day running of the affairs of the school.
He promised to mobilise the parents and sensitise them on the need for such fee increments which, he believes, would not have adverse effect on them as both parties would consider economic indices before arriving at acceptable conclusions.
Dignitaries from all walks of life ranging from political giants to senior civil servants in the state, traditional title holders as well as religious leaders graced the occasion.
Highlights of the event were cultural presentation, NSS Press Hour, debate and presentations of gifts, medals and certificates to the pupils and those that made outstanding performances.
