In his determined effort to assist the students, promote their welfare and rid them of financial difficulties, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, has initiated a scheme for an on-campus part-time job in which one hundred and twenty-five students have been employed in the first instance. The aim is to help the students earn legitimate money by rendering some services to the University.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abbas, who launched the scheme on Friday, 3rd December 2021, said it was the first of its kind introduced in the University as part of his promise to improve the welfare of students.
He said it was a special day for him to fulfil one of the promises he made of improving the welfare of students, noting that the essence is to make life comfortable for students.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the employed students would be engaged in various assignments such as monitoring and supervision of the University’s facilities, surveillance to ensure a secure environment, cleanliness, and other menial jobs that may arise.
He happily said that each student would pocket home with N15,000 monthly, subject to being cleared by his supervisor after meeting the requirements.
Prof Abbas added the employed students would be proud of the work because of earning legitimately and rendering services to the University. He said the day was unique to the University.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, drew the attention of the engaged students that they are the pioneer beneficiaries of the scheme; as such, they should do whatever they can to protect the interest of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that plans are underway to establish students’ skills acquisition centre in the University.
According to him, when fully operational, the centre will teach volunteer students to acquire some entrepreneurial skills to become self-reliant upon graduation.
“The centre which will be free of charge to any interested student of the university would allow participants to learn some trade such as tailoring, make-up as well as a beauty salon and other skills which will go along way in helping the students to be self-reliant after graduation,” said the Vice-Chancellor.
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Mahmoud Umar Sani, while giving the scheme’s background, said it was the initiative of the Vice-Chancellor who felt that the University should introduce a scheme that will ease the financial hardship of students with part-time jobs. He said this was in recognition of the unfavourable economic status of some of the students, which made it difficult for them to cope.
Professor Sani explained that the objectives are to create a symbiosis between students and the University, where menial jobs will be offered to those interested students for mutual benefits and improve on the already existing relationship between students and the University.
“Though the job is not a highly skilled one, the University may give some training to the employed students especially in the areas of safety, security and appropriate use of working materials to avoid injury, wastage and misuse.
The University Registrar, Malam Jamil Ahmad Salim, said each of the employed students would be documented, and supervisors would be assigned to monitor their work. He urged them to exemplify a high level of responsibility.
Also speaking, the Dean, Students Affairs, Professor Shamsuddeen Umar, commended the Vice-Chancellor for the laudable initiative. He described him as a courageous, visionary and exemplary leader who prioritizes the welfare of students.