Nok University Must Be The Labour Room For New Nigerian Elite
By Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Ph.D
On November 19th, 1863, the great Abraham Lincoln delivered a short speech of less than four hundred words. Now famously known as the Gettysburg speech, it was to honour those who had died in the American civil war (1861-1865). The speech also sought to provide a roadmap for the future of a fledging country battered by war and struggling to establish freedom. Over two hundred years later, the spirit and letter of that speech still ring around the world and today, the principles of Democracy as a government for the people, by the people and of the people were derived from that spring.
In that speech, Lincoln said: The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.
I feel drawn to the same sentiments, namely, that the significance of what we are doing here today will far outlive us and signpost of history will be marked here. That what we are doing here is to give light to the dreams and struggles of generations of those who have gone before us. What we are doing here is an honour to those who have struggled to give birth to a new nation, a new people, freed from the slavery of war and seeking a common home.
We gather here this morning to inaugurate both the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of our new baby, Nok University, located in Kachia, Kachia Local Government of Kaduna State. The timing of this event in the history of our dear country cannot be more fitting and inspiring for our nation that is on the throes of a self-immolating and self-defeating war with itself. What we face, a war between Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers or whatever we may call them, is a moral call to arms by all citizens of our dear country. This is a war between darkness and light, good and evil, between those who seek to extinguish the lights of our common humanity and those who wish to envelope us in the darkness of death inspired by illiteracy and nihilism.
This institution may be geographically located in Kachia, but it is by no means to be held a prisoner of its location. It must become a lighthouse of hope, a rallying point for the generation of ideas about our common history, cultures and humanity. This university must become the labour room for the birth of generations of a new Nigerian elite committed to building a great country, far from the shattered destruction of bigotry and hate that has engulfed us. We must renew and rededicate ourselves with greater commitment to the promotion of a new civilization of love through education. Please let me divert to make a point about why this ceremony is so important for our country and the larger society.
On October 19th, 2019, Pope Francis canonized Henry Cardinal Newman, the Oxford Professor (1801-1890) in a historic ceremony that was attended by the Prince of Wales in the Vatican. Cardinal Newman, a convert to Catholicism is famous for writing and defining through a Lecture series a collection of Essays titled, The Idea of a University. In this work, Newman charts the path of the University as a moral compass for society. In his view, a University is meant to give students; A perfection of the intellect … the clear, calm, accurate vision and comprehension of all things that allows the individual to make good judgments. It is a place for students to engage in intellectual pursuits not for any external purpose, but as an end in itself. It is a place to help students “to think and to reason and compare, to discriminate and to analyse”, A university training is the great ordinary means to a great but ordinary end; it aims at raising the intellectual tone of society… It is the education which gives a man a clear conscious view of his own opinions and judgments, a truth in developing them, an eloquence in expressing them and a force in urging them.
I am humbled to be asked to Chair the BOT, the body tasked with the duties and responsibilities of overseeing the development of an ethos of our common humanity. I am committed to the vision of Cardinal Newman and to be called to lead a galaxy of such men and women as we have on the BOT is an honour I honestly least deserve. We have men and Women drawn from various backgrounds, across the board, men and women of achievement, men and women whose diverse background are a testament and a celebration of our diversity. Our duty in the BOT is to, among many other things:
- Oversee Policy formulation at the highest level of this University
- To listen to, receive matters relating to the welfare of Students, Staff and all who will be called upon to run this University
- To work in very close collaboration with the Founder, Chancellor, Chairman and Members of the Governing Council
- To serve as a moral guide to the all-inclusive vision of University.
There are, of course more but I highlight these to draw attention to the fact that ours will be a collaborative effort, united by the vision to ensure that we serve as a beacon, a gate way for all that is good in our people. We hope and dream that this University will identify and replicate all the values of our diverse cultures and create a mosaic that can drive the future of our dear country.
I want to thank the Founder, Mr. Anthony Hassan, for his selfless vision and dream, a self-effacing gentleman whose harmless looks hide a very disciplined and committed gentleman. We believe that God will reward you abundantly. This investment will outlive you in particular and all of us in general, but through it, you have written your name on the sands of eternity.
Although I know that the Founder of the University will do this, but let me on this occasion extend our appreciation to the President, General Muhammadu Buhari for giving approval to application of this Institution. To my very good friend of many years, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Honourable Minister for Education, we are most grateful. I did not for one day have to even speak to him or lobby for a favour in the course of this project. We are most thankful
I believe I need to pause here to pay special attention to the Executive Secretary, my friend who became my brother, Professor Rasheed Abubakar, definitely, and the game changing Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC. He has changed the face of Tertiary Education in Nigeria in the last few years by giving direction purpose, focus and urgency to the idea of new Universities without too much bureaucracy. From the day I accompanied Anthony Hassan and his delegation to the NUC, on March 16th 2019, his warmth and infectious enthusiasm for this project surpassed our imagination. It is to his credit that from the start to the end of the processes of acquiring the License, everything took less than one year. We cannot find the words to thank you. Nigerians who have approached the NUC since your resumption of office have come away with the strong conviction that you are indeed, a great Nigerian and a pride to our nation. We will operate to the highest standards of education nationally and internationally. Thank you again.
Finally, let me thank the Chairman and Members of the Interim Management Team for the great job they did in holding the fort for all this time. At this point, we can consider that your job has been done. May God bless and reward you. The Team now officially stands dissolved. Thank you once again and God bless you for the great work you did. Thank you everyone.
Being short remarks by the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Dr Matthew Hassan KUKAH, at the Inauguration of the Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of Nok University, at the Command Guest House, Abuja, on Tuesday March, 2, 2021
