The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shakarau, has commended members of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) for maintaining discipline and integrity among its members. Mallam Shakarau made this known recently during a send-forth dinner party, held in honour of former members of the association.

He, however, used the occasion to expressed his displeasure over the decadence in the nation’s educational sector. The Minister observed that education had not really impacted the lives of the people inspite of the many Universities existing in the country, while calling on AVCNU to put in more efforts at tackling this challenge. Speaking at the occasion, the President, Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, commended the honourees, who were former past Vice-Chancellors and AVCNU members, for their immense contribution and selfless service rendered to their respective Universities and the nation at large. He implored incumbent Vice-Chancellors to emulate the laudable achievements recorded by those being honoured while in office, as the Chairman of AVCNU, Professor Joseph Ajienka, congratulated the honourees for successfully completing their tenure of office.

The send-forth dinner party was organised in recognition of excellent services of the former Vice-Chancellors, as Chief Executives of their various Universities. Those honoured include: Professor Hamisu Muhammad, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Professor Bashir Haruna Usman, Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola; Professor James Adelabu, University of Abuja; Professor Sidi Oso, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti; and Professor Effiom Ene-Obang, Cross Rivers State University of Technology, Calabar. Others are: Professor Riskuwa Shehu, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; Professor Boniface Eghoka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Professor Bartho Okolo, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Professor Mala Daura, University of Maiduguri.