Mental Health: ATBU Outgone VC advocates drug tests for lecturers

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Outgoing Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Prof Muhammad Ahmed Abdulazeez has called for a drug test for academic staff of Universities in the country to ascertain their mental health state.

Abdulazeez made the call while delivering his valedictory speech to the Senate of the University held at the Senate Building, Gubi Campus, on Friday.

The former VC advised that drug tests should be administered for both University Students and Academic Staff to sanitize the system.

“If the Students are to be subjected to drug tests to determine their mental health status, nothing is wrong if the Lecturers too are subjected to the same test,” he opined.

“That is the only way to check excesses in the University system”

The immediate past VC expressed confidence that drug tests will promote sanity and academic excellence in the nation’s university system in line with the objective of establishing them.

Giving account of his stewardship for the past five years as VC, Abdulazeez explained that he had played his own part in collective effort towards improving academic excellence in ATBU as Vice Chancellor.

“The modest achievements we have recorded in the areas of infrastructural development, academic content development and community services could not have been possible without the support of all stakeholders in the system,” he stated

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the support rendered to the University through the Federal Ministry of Education and its various agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)

“Next, I will like to humbly and respectfully appreciate the support, co-operation and guide from the management, staff and students of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University whom I have directly worked with in order to realize the goals we set to achieve as a University,” he said.

“My special thanks also goes to ASUU, SSANU, NASU, NAATS and the SUG for the continued understanding, encouragement, guidance and the patience that characterized the calm atmosphere of our journey in the last five years.

‘No doubt, your mature response to our management goals was awesome and progressive. I cannot thank you enough for this favorable relationship..

“At this juncture, I would like to recognize the role played by our esteemed stakeholders in creating balance and the calmness needed for the progress of our University. In this regard, I will like to thank the Bauchi State Government for its leadership role and support to our University; the Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers for its fatherly role, support and encouragement; the parents and guardians of our dear students; the University Alumni Association; the various print, electronic and internet based media and all other professional Unions and Associations we have directly or indirectly interacted with in the last five years.”

He then announced that the University Senate has elected Prof. Sani Usman Kunya to take over from him as the Acting Vice-Chancellor pending the election of a substantive one.

“This election received the blessing of the Federal Government. Professor Sani Usman Kunya is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics),” the outgoing VC said.

“While I take my exit today, I wish my incoming successor a fruitful tenure. I want to urge for the same support accorded to my leadership to be extended to him so that he can succeed in building a stronger ATBU. Thank you and may Allah bless us all.”

In his acceptance speech, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Sani Usman Kunya described the day as a special one for him.

“I bow to take the onerous responsibility of acting the position of the Vice Chancellor of our great University,” he said.

“It is a special day because it marks the beginning of the responsibility you, the Senate, have bestowed on me on behalf of our community.”

“Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to the Senate of the University for finding me worthy of this honor and to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the confirmation of your freewill.”

“I want to assure you that your valuable confidence in me will not be disappointing. I shall do everything within my capability to build on the legacies of my predecessors in terms of maintaining and improving academic excellence,” he assured.

“To the staff and students of the University, let me assure you that within the limited time of my duty as the Acting Vice Chancellor, I will ensure that your productivity is improved so that we can gain more of the ingredients of good administrative practices and better teaching methods in order to fit into the modern academic pursuit in World Class Universities.”

“We are living in a fast evolving society where competition is heightened. We cannot afford to lag behind, especially now. The fast development in Artificial Intelligence is about to dominate the global sphere. Universities are the bedrock of these changes. We must strive to keep in pace with the modern trend in order to survive our acquired excellence.

“With your much needed support, we shall all succeed. I want to express my gratitude to the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor MA AbdulAzeez whom I have worked under as the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics. Your humility and open-hearted approach to issues made my stay with you memorable and honorable. ATBU cannot thank you enough for your invaluable service as its Vice Chancellor.

The Ag VC urged his colleagues here to be rest assured that his doors are going to be opened 24/7 so that they can succeed in the dreams for better ATBU stressing that, “Kindly knock on my door to offer any useful information and advice that will help to add value to the system. I would like to urge all and sundry to put hands on deck so that together, we can collectively succeed as an Institution.”