From Umar Danladi Ado,Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its policy of automatic employment for First Class graduates of Sokoto State University (SSU) as the institution graduated 6,000 students on Saturday.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the administration’s policy of automatic employment for SSU graduates who obtain First Class honours is a deliberate strategy to reward academic excellence and retain exceptional talent within the state’s public service.
Governor Aliyu, who is the Visitor to Sokoto State University, also directed the State Ministries of Works and Higher Education to liaise with the management of the university to facilitate the construction of a befitting convocation arena for the institution.
Aliyu gave the directive while delivering his remarks at the university’s 8th Combined Convocation Ceremony, which brought together graduates from the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th academic sessions.
He described the combined convocation as a historic milestone celebrating the achievements of thousands of graduates and reflecting the remarkable progress recorded by the university since its establishment in 2009 by former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.
He reaffirmed that education remains one of the cardinal pillars of his administration’s development agenda, stressing that no society can attain sustainable development without sustained investment in quality education and human capital development.
Gov. Aliyu said that since assuming office, his administration has implemented several interventions aimed at repositioning the university.
These include the clearance of outstanding salary arrears and staff entitlements, partial payment of Earned Academic Allowances for academic staff, settlement of outstanding allowances owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), implementation of a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, renovation and rehabilitation of staff quarters, and the construction of a modern sports complex.
The Governor further disclosed that additional projects addressing the university’s priority needs had already been captured in the 2026 Appropriation Law.
He assured the institution of his administration’s continued support towards realising its vision of becoming one of Nigeria’s leading centres of teaching, research and innovation.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isa Muhammad Maishanu, described the convocation as a celebration of excellence, resilience and the transformative power of education.
He congratulated the Governing Council, management, Senate, staff, students, alumni and the entire university community for sustaining the vision upon which Sokoto State University was founded.
Prof. Maishanu also welcomed traditional rulers, visiting governors and their representatives, vice-chancellors, captains of industry, distinguished scholars, parents and guardians, noting that their presence reflected a shared commitment to advancing higher education.
He described education as the most powerful instrument for societal transformation and the foundation for peace, sustainable economic growth, technological advancement and responsible leadership.
The Commissioner disclosed that approximately 6,000 students graduated across the university’s five faculties, comprising 779 graduates from the Faculty of Arts, 347 from the Faculty of Computing, 1,187 from the Faculty of Education, 1,886 from the Faculty of Science, and 1,377 from the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.
He further announced that 42 graduates earned First Class honours, including eight from the Faculty of Arts, six from the Faculty of Computing, seven from the Faculty of Education, 17 from the Faculty of Science and four from the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Bello Yarima, highlighted the university’s remarkable growth since it commenced academic activities in 2011 with three pioneer faculties.
According to him, the institution now operates five faculties and has submitted proposals for 22 new academic programmes to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He explained that, upon approval, the programmes would expand the university’s academic structure to between eight and nine faculties, with new programmes in Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Medical Sciences and Law.
Prof. Yarima appealed to Gov. Aliyu to approve the recruitment of additional qualified academic and non-academic staff to support the planned expansion.
He also expressed appreciation to the Governor for approving and releasing funds for the combined convocation within three days of the university’s request, describing the prompt intervention as instrumental to the successful organisation of the ceremony.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the university recently secured a ₦35 million National Research Fund grant and is working towards establishing a Centre of Excellence for Solid Minerals Research, with technical collaborations already initiated with institutions in India and China.
He added that the university has continued to benefit from interventions by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in infrastructure development, research, library expansion and staff training.
According to him, many members of the academic staff have received advanced training in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and India, while the university has also institutionalised a monthly public lecture series to promote research, innovation and intellectual engagement.
Delivering his Convocation Address, the Chancellor of Sokoto State University, His Royal Highness Alhaji Hamim Nuhu Sanusi, Emir of Dutse, described the ceremony as one of the most significant milestones in the life of any university, noting that it symbolises the transformation of learning into leadership and education into service to humanity.
The Chancellor congratulated the graduating students and urged them to uphold integrity, discipline, professionalism and patriotism as worthy ambassadors of the university.
He reminded them that the award of a degree marks the beginning of lifelong learning and encouraged them to deploy the knowledge and skills they had acquired to address societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He also called on governments, the private sector and development partners to continue investing in higher education, research and innovation, stressing that universities remain indispensable to national development, technological advancement and economic prosperity.
The Chancellor commended Gov. Aliyu for his unwavering support for higher education and paid tribute to the Founder of the university, Senator Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, for his foresight in establishing an institution that has continued to expand access to quality university education in Sokoto State.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees (Honoris Causa) on three distinguished Nigerians in recognition of their outstanding contributions to public service, leadership and national development.
The honorary doctorate recipients were the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo; former Governor of old Sokoto State, Malam Yahaya Abdulkarim; and renowned businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Umar Ajiya.
The ceremony also featured the conferment of degrees, presentation of awards to outstanding graduates and the graduation of approximately 6,000 students across various disciplines, underscoring Sokoto State University’s steady emergence as one of Nigeria’s leading centres of academic excellence.