There is the total collapse of family structure and the increasing number of joblessness. In an era of down-sizing or right-sizing of workers, any University system should be that whose output shall be more to skill acquisition which in turn greatly assist in the development of human creative talent. In this regard, often, I had cause to argued that rather than establishing an open ended University whose academic structure is more of an amalgam of all sorts of academic conduits, the State, been a Hydro-power generating one, should establish a University that is wholly and solely limited to Electrical Studies that especially relate to Hydro-carbon generation which the State is blessed with. This would invariably make the academic studies more concentrative, focus and have focal point while the other existing Institutions in the State should be re-positioned so as to cater for other categories of the academic demands. Having this creed as the mantra upon which the University is established, there is no doubt that the State would have to invest heavily on this focal University. A part from human development and skills it would provide which is the meeting point, the availability of research tools close such as Kainji and Shiroro Dams would further boost the academic work of the Institution. Advantageously, while others are shouting for Resource Control, the University would eventually serve as a veritable and reliable source of internal revenue to the State, if its takes the advantage of the Power Sector Reform Act especially in the area of Power-Generation and Distribution seriously by building hydro-dams to generate and distribute the electricity generated.

However, the supersonic speed at which the State University has been hatched and foundation laid in Lapai, without recourse to due process only blast-open the sentiment and greed associated with the decision.

In its philosophy, its objectives and its prejudices, the IBB University is a replica, a poor one though, of our former colonial metropolis. Like a number of other institutions, the University was transplanted, lock, stock and barrel, onto our soil with hardly any regard to our peculiarities. It shows that the State has now joined in the league of quantity of institutions without quality of education A many definitions have been given to University as a public tertiary education institution that is primarily concerned with advanced learning and knowledge, research, and teaching to a postgraduate level. It also means an institution of higher learning with teaching and research facilities consisting of at least one graduate school and professional schools that award master’s degrees and doctoral degrees as well as an undergraduate division that awards bachelor’s degrees. It is a place in which a civilization's knowledge is divided up into exclusive territories. The principal occupation of the academic community is to invent dialects sufficiently hermetic to prevent knowledge from passing between territories. It is also seen as an institution of post-high school education that has three main aims: teaching graduate and undergraduate programs; conducting research to find new knowledge and more ways to use old knowledge; making its findings and teachers available to society. The university grants advanced degrees as well as bachelor's degrees in many fields including liberal arts, sciences, and professions. A university is an establishment where a seat of higher learning is housed, including administrative and living quarters as well as facilities for research and teaching. Also, it is a large and diverse institution of higher learning created to educate for life and for a profession and to grant degrees. Against this backdrop, one wonders whether Niger State University is a fashion or a necessity. If, it is a necessity, has the parameter underlying the necessity defined? The State most have in the beginning defined what philosophy and objectives it’s tending to achieve. It is, indeed, known that Higher education gives one a greater sense of how to reduce risks in life and change their behavior. Also, confidence, self-reliance, and adaptability are all earmarks of advanced education. At least in the developed world, education determines, not only earning capacity, but also the very quality of human life (even longevity has relationship to education). In a society that appreciates educated class, those with good education tend to earn higher incomes; they also are in a better position to leave a better and healthy live. The need, thus become necessary, at the foundation stage to critically look at the philosophy, infra-structure and support facilities needed to provide a most conducive learning and teaching environment at all levels of our education system.

It should be of interest to note that our contemporary educational system has always been in location and name. Whereby Knowledge is universal and timeless that has a social cultural stamp. It also has a purpose and a commitment to a particular world-view. It, therefore, cannot be neutral, as observed by Waziri Junaidu. The thinking of the Niger State government is to improve the so called quality of education and provide opportunities for Nigerlites to higher education. This, may sound rational, however, the underpinning principles and objective are not clearly defined. They seem to be fashionable rather than a necessity. These, certainly, lives so many questions. Apart from number of graduate, what other objectives do the State tend to achieve? A many minds will quickly point to fact that since the British left our educational institutions, the number of Primary to Universities and polytechnics have multiplied so also the enrolments and graduates. But they may not want to concede the indisputable fact that as these institutions grow and multiply so have our troubles. The Universities often assume the characters of the elites rather than being based on the domestic-market economy oriented model capable of solving our problems. The new University in Niger State would not have its structure and orientation different from those of the old. A cursory glance at our lives in Niger State in the last six years or so will easily reveal the negative development, decimation, destruction and torment we went (indeed are still going) through. And all we have been doing is to lament with an ever growing helplessness. The failure to fashion out acceptable, accountable and adaptable local educational needs is a prima facie to most problems. Many modern universities in the West", Professor Abdullahi Smith had occasion to explain, "were established purposely to provide training in science and technology for industrial and business establishment only, and not to produce scholars who could reform society. In a period of moral and social crisis, such as the one in which the West is plunged at the moment with macabre consequence on us, the result is that reforming influences are remarkably lacking and society continues to sink deeper in the moral abyss. "The excessive Westernization of our universities" Smith continues to say, "ensures in turn that our men of learning face these crises with the same helplessness which characterizes the position of scholars in the West." Certainly, the State has the raw–students desiring to further their education. However, the foundation to qualify them into the State University has been extinguished. The primary education system has totally collapsed and the Secondary Schools are only a counterfeit. Clearly, the educational system in Niger State has been left far behind even by third world standards. The youths who are supposed to be in the school have been frustrated by the failure of the administrative system to abandon schools and took up Okada and Pure Water businesses. What this means is that there are more dropout on the streets of Niger State than those in the classrooms. Then what do we need the University for? That University should have been named Niger State Okada and Pure Water University, Lapai.

Before that so called IBB University in Lapai, there should have been a holistic overhaul of Primary and Secondary education in the State whereby the dilapidated structure are transform into being educationally attractive. The need to improve higher education should begin with giving greater attention to our preschool, elementary, secondary, and vocational schools. These areas are the building blocks of society’s educational foundation, as not everyone needs a university education. If Kure can not give adequate and quality education to students at the elementary and secondary level, the so called IBB University would continue to be populated by those who are least prepared to face the rigors of university education. And ‘cultism,’ ‘intimidation of professors into better grades’ and other vices will continue to blossom on the campus. In the 21st century, when even the unborn knows of Computer, you cannot expect a boy to go to school without classroom, furniture and other instructional materials. What is at present called pre and post primary school facilities in Niger State cannot be used even in the 13th Century European Schools. It is only ironical, policy somersault or lack of it for an administration to, on a whim, established a University when the foundation and the basic prerequisites for entrance are in dire shambles. With what qualification does Kure want the students to be enrolled? Okada and Pure Water Certificates, and what else? More important to this issue of State University is funding. Does the State have the funds to sustain the University system? In fact, the Professor Kolo’s and Abubakar Gimba who are in the academic temple knows very well the problem as regard the funding of higher institution if they are to really meet standard. A many of the Institutions have collapsed because of funding. The Niger State Polytechnic is breeding half-Diploma-graduate as the entire academic system has collapsed – most of the Courses have been disaccredited. This is because of poor funding or lack of it. The Polytechnic after many years of its establishment, it environment is still not habitable by standard and thus make it less attractive to education. If Governor Kure has now developed the wherewithal and the political will to site the University in his hometown, and if the successive administration eventually lost confidence in the project, what happens? The University becomes a legacy of monumental waste.

Sustainability and quality of learning is a veritable tool that makes an institution of learning. There must be continuity in the system both in terms of quality in output and means of sustenance. It has been argued that education could act as a source of empowerment when the quality is such that it will improve the ability of the citizenry to compete effectively in the world. It has long been found that quality is never an accident; it has always been the result of high intentions, sincere efforts, intelligent mission statement and focused as well as skillful implementation. In education, there is a broad agreement on a number of issues that define quality. They include higher academic standards, vigorous curricula, skilled and experienced teachers, updated textbooks, state of the arts laboratories and computing facilities, small class sizes, modern buildings and conducive environment for learning, strict discipline, involving parents amongst others. These are tasking responsibilities which the government of Kure and successive ones most continuously address. Have we made the plans in this regard? The haphazard approach only shows that it is another project toiled to serve as conduits to transfer money to corrupt politicians in the name of contract.

Equally important to ask is, with the obvious collapse of Students Support Programmes such Scholarship and Trust Funds, how would the less-to-have in the society with greater percentage be able to cater for the University education? Does scholarship exist in Niger State? Even if its does, what is being given or paid cannot afford biro. There is no Education Trust Fund – the one by the State has since been drained and individuals have none. One wonders why the State deems it fit to name the University after IBB when he has no Education Trust Fund for Nigerlites. The Al-Amin School run by his Wife is beyond the reach of more 99% of Nigerlites.

One had expected that, in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, when in 2004, the Government of Niger State setup a Committee led by Professor Ibrahim Kolo to look into the possibility of establishing Niger State University, the Report of the Committee should have been made available to all Nigerlites to comment and not to be hijacked by political interest. Subjecting the report to public is, indeed, a consensus building mechanism approach whereby the future of the University and its sustainability would be secured.

Professor Kolo is a Nupe intellectual of repute, and, I am sure his report is all encompassing, but that report shouldn’t have been subjected to another Nupe-man as a head of another Technical Committee to review the Professor Kolo’s Report. One really one to know the criteria been used to locate the University in the Nupe axis? Was it the recommendation of Kolo or Gimba? Even if the Nupes have conspired with their intelligentsia to site the University in their enclave, a project of similar monetary proportion should have been sited in other zones so as to douse tension and spread development among areas. But that has not been done. At the moment, there is large concentration of roads projects claimed to be going on in Nupe zone without any in the rest of the zones. My fear is that, since the project cannot be completed overnight incoming administration may make it look like unprioritised project, and then what do we do? It is a well-known fact that the Spread of Federal and State Institutions in Niger State shows Bida Emirate alone have Federal Polytechnic, (the Permanent Site FUT, in Garatu, is close distance) Federal Health Centre, School of Nursing, College of Administrative Studies, School of Agric, Mokwa and National Cereal Crops and Research Institute, Baddegi among others.

The Minna Emirate have Federal University of Technology, Minna, College of Education, Minna, School of Health Technology, Minna, National Youth Service Corp Camp, Paiko, Shiroro Dam, School of Midwifery, School of Legal Studies, Works Training School, Police Training School etc. In Kontagora Emirate there are Federal College of Education, Kontagora, Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, School of Health Technology, Tungan Magajiya etc while Suleja Emirate has only Suleja Academy etc. Borgu Emirate School of Fisheries, Kainji, Kainji Dam etc It may be noticed from the spread of Federal and State Higher Institutions that, three of the Emirate may have none. However, based on the geo-political divide of the State of three Zones, a principle cogently and consistently upheld by the ruling party of the State, the Bida Emirate with highest number of concentration of Institutions in the State falls under Zone “A” – a predominantly Nupe speaking axis that comprises of Lapai and Agaie Emirates. Thus, Zone “A” has the highest number of concentration. Therefore, citing the University in the Zone, amounts to insatiable greed, conceited selfishness and lopsidedness. It showcase the continue concentration of educational development in the Nupe Axis while the rest of the zones are deliberately being made educationally backward as the Nupes would continue to dominate their quota in all field of endeavours. If the University has been cited elsewhere, more Nigerlites would be attracted to education. From the statistics of Kontagora and Borgu Emirates, Zone “C” seems to have it fair share of Institutional spread in the State. For Zone “B”, which comprises of Minna, Suleja and Kagara Emirates, the Minna Emirate case may be seen as exceptional because of its being the State Capital while Suleja’s Emirate proximity to the Federal Capital, Abuja undoubtedly influenced her present fortunes in development with Kagara Emirate, unfortunately, having a zero allocation of Higher Institution. The Institution could be cited everywhere as the Government deem fits, but merit and compassionate ground are worthy of note and consideration when the decision to locate the proposed State University was made rather than nepotism.

Governor Kure was reported to have argued that the State Government cannot embark on constructing new structure for the University due to lack of funds. As such, Emirates like Kagara who have requested for the location of the University earlier have no ready-made structures. Does Lapai have any? How would the State Government now fund the construction of the new University? A total of about N6.5billion has been budgeted according to report and out of which N550million has already been remitted to a Special Account for the University. Because the University has been sited in the Governor’s hometown – isn’t this appears selfish? Have this amount been appropriated in the State 2005 budget? Or is just as its-pleases-His-Excellency-expenditure? The State House of Assembly what are you doing about it? We are rubber stamp! We can pass a budget in less than an hour. Incredible! That has been our Magnanimous tradition to the Governor. According to Gimba the funds will be generated through a joint contribution by the State and Local Governments. The sharing formula has not been disclosed. Which shows that the State would never contribute anything but illegally divert funds meant for boreholes, drugs, feeder roads, culvert, drainages, sanitations, market constructions etc in the Local Governments? When has the local Governments become the sponsor of tertiary education – even in primary education, the Local Governments have only a participatory role. See the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution and the Supreme Court ruling of 5th April 2002. Who consulted the Local Governments? And what were their reactions in this context? Even though the State Government has not been sincere in the operation of the Joint Account, to further deduct N200million monthly only portend the extinction of Local Governments in Niger State. At the moment every month, except salary, it has been zero allocation. On a matter of fact, it is illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void for the State to deduct Local Governments funds in the name of a mirage University. If the State wants a University, it should be funded from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State. I am certain that we don’t have much to gain from the kind of educational institutions as they are presently being established and stand to loose, our children, our State and our future. I am also certain that until we began to address the issues raised and immediately too, we must not expect any improvement in the quality of life or governance in our State. The problem, to be sure, is not the much talked about falling standards of education, no; the issue is that there are no standards at all. To talk about falling standards of education is not only to oversimplify the problem; it is simply to miss the whole point about our educational crisis. We must first introduce the standard before we could measure it, for how can we measure standards, academic or otherwise, in system where anything goes, where some students can purchase, through cash or kind, from admission, through certificates to the job itself. This is a system where certificates, which can be and are quite often forged, earn much greater respect than knowledge itself; a system where imitation of alien models, thoughts and ideas rather than originality constitute education; and a system in which integrity and rectitude have neither meaning nor place. A post-mortem of six years Kure’s administration in Niger State, would show one greater tragedy that be face our dear State, which is it possible disappearance on the map of Nigeria and that of the world. The signpost that the present situation poses is that of a State hijacked by a gang whose desire and ambition is to rapaciously accumulate and subject the State to endless poverty. The present government is the worst tsunami that ever hit the State since its creation in 1976. Systematically, Kure’s style of leadership, which is focusless and lack luster, is moving the State out of the frame and radar of development that is the tide in neighboring States.

Kure what lessons do learn from your visit to Edo State recently? Did you Commissioned projects? When would you invite him or someone else? We are waiting.

The administration neither has mission nor vision. It is an administration submerged by the tides and waves of confusion. What a Tsunami! Since 1999 when President Obasanjo first visited the State and Commission few leftover Military Government’s projects nothing again worthwhile has been commissioned. I cannot remember when last I saw my Excellency commissioning even a borehole as a State Government project nor as a Local Government project in the Media. In Jigawa some of us saw how in the middle of the night Governor Saminu Turaki Commissioned multi-million naira computerization projects even if it is not a priority in that rural Jigawa State. The tragedy in Niger State, the Governor neither Commission prioritized projects nor non-prioritized. I do not want to believe the prism that Governor Kure is a silent achiever as there seems to appear nothing is silently being achieved. The window of achievements still remains obscure, but why? Kure’s administration since 1999 had received over N60billion in the last six years excluding other miscellaneous allocation such as internal revenue, Value Added Tax, excess crude, ecological funds etc that runs into billions. How has your government expended this money? Let us have the breakdown of what you did and where, if you are trustworthy? Also, the Local Governments in the State had received in the last six years more than N47billion which the sixth position among Local Governments that received highest Statutory Allocation in Nigeria, but development is still far from the populace reach. Poverty is still crushing all the nooks and crannies of the State.

One writer had once argued that in Kaduna and Bauchi States one would see asphalted roads but never ask for the price because they are so high. Tragically, in Niger State, there are no roads at high cost, there is no water supply at high price, the hospitals have no drugs at high cost etc while the features of Hospitals should be that of hope and recovery from illness, in Niger State they symbolizes Centres for Disease Development and Death. On the main Entrance of all the General Hospitals in Niger State, the hope of recovery from illness has been wiped out – the environment is bushy and dirty. Inside it, one is welcome by horrifying odour and often no Doctors – certainly, it is death awaiting centre. Even with the Deputy Governor, a professional Pharmacist, as Commissioner of Health in the Last five years, before been redeployed to Special Duties, nothing has been done to make Hospitals in Niger State as health-seeking-centres – then where has the money gone to? (supply of Okada for dropouts and vehicles for Commissioners, State House of Assembly Members, Special Advisers/Assistants, Emirs, Local Governments Chairmen and even District Heads or do I hear you say Lapai House in… no, IBB Campaign, so you said) What happens to the State budget over the years? Have they been implemented? It was reported that a Permanent Secretary was said to have been summarily sacked for daring the governor for not implementing budgets. What a reward for insisting that the rule must be obeyed! One thing for sure Kure is to live behind is a State whose spectacle is unedifying, deteriorating and despondent. Frustration is everywhere and poverty is fast ravaging the people. The youths who are the future of the State, rather than being engage in productive ventures, their talent is being deliberately wasted on the streets in the name of Kabu-Kabu (Okada). Has any of the Governor’s son or his deputy, commissioner etc involve in Okada ride business? Most of them study abroad and lucrative jobs await them on their return. While Okada may bring some sought of relief to most poor families, it is an empowerment scheme that is hatch and implemented so as to continue to perpetuate poverty rather than reduce poverty. The immeasurable influx of Okada business is only a clear manifestation of failure on the part of government and those in leadership to source for and implement productive ventures. Kabu-kubu only breeds thugs of the future who would make those in leadership restless. The future of the State is doom, unless cogent effort is made to return these youths back to schools and engage others into other productive enterprises. Take a statistics, for instance, the result would, invariably, show that most of the Okada riders are youths frustrated by leadership failure.

History would undoubtedly record the years of Kure as the years of Tsunami in Niger State. Every form of development had eluded the populace of the State. Oh! Allah saves us from the Government of Kure. Lallai ko anyi kuskure, ko?  

Hussaini Sani Kagara

 hsanikagara@yahoo.com