The Management of Al-Hikmah University, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Noah Yusuf, has paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D. GCON, today, Thursday, 21st November 2024, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Others in the delegation are Dr. S. L. Nurudeen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Dr. K. A. Oladimeji, Registrar; and Professor L. F. Oladimeji, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
In his address, Professor Yusuf conveyed the warm greetings of the Founder, Alh. Chief (Dr.) AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, OFR, FNEAP, fspsp, to the Speaker. He said that the university delegation was in the office of the speaker to invite him to deliver the university’s 14th convocation lecture on Monday, 6th January 2025. He pointed out that the 14th Convocation is a unique one because the date coincides with the 20th Anniversary of the University, as it was founded on 7th January 2005, as the first Islamic Faith-Based University in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor further appreciated the Speaker for sustaining what he called THE GOLDEN CHAIN-LINK OF DISTINGUISHED CONVOCATION LECTURERS OF AL-HIKMAH UNIVERSITY since the inception of the current management team. He narrated the link from His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who delivered the 10th convocation lecture on 5th December, 2020; His Excellency, Prof. Agboola Gambari, CON, former Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, 12th convocation lecturer on 7th December 2022; His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCFR, 13th convocation lecturer on 9th December, 2023.
In the convocation lecture, Professor Yusuf clarified that the speaker has the liberty to choose any topic of his interest, which the university would be willing to humbly receive soonest from him so as to ease the logistics of printing invitation cards.
He also stated the decision of the university to confer an honorary doctorate degree of public administration (honoris causa) to the Speaker at the 14th convocation ceremony on Tuesday, 7th January 2025, in recognition of his selfless service to humanity as a lawmaker who has made positive impacts in the legislature.
The Vice-Chancellor then went down memory lane to mention the visit of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, CFR, to the Al-Hikmah University campus at Igbaja 16th August, 2022.
In his response, the Speaker welcomed the university delegation to his office. He informed his guests that he has accepted to deliver the 14th convocation lecture of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, on 6th January 2025, as scheduled by the university. He also indicates his acceptance of the honorary doctorate degree (public administration), which is to be conferred on him by the university.
He stressed that as a teacher who started his career in primary school and rose to become the pioneer head of accounting departments at the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, and the Kaduna State University (KASU), he was elated by the recognition.
In his words, “It’s my pleasure to receive you this afternoon. I am a proud teacher. I started my teaching career from primary school, where I spent six years, then moved to Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic and spent eight years. I became the pioneer head of the Department of Accounting there.”
“I moved to the Kaduna State University, where I also spent about eight years. I also became the pioneer head of the accounting department there. So, cumulatively, I spent about 22 years as a teacher. I don’t think there’s any profession that I’ll spend such a number of years in.”
“I feel so proud to be in the midst of academics. I hope that when I retire from politics, I will be back in the classroom.”
“I want to reaffirm my decision to attend your 14th convocation lecture. As for the topic, you should choose whichever topic you think is contemporary and relevant to your institution. I will be happy to do justice to it.”
While congratulating Al-Hikmah for the successful hosting of its annual conference recently, the Speaker appreciated the institution for its decision to confer him with an honorary doctorate degree in public administration.
“I appreciate the honor of you awarding me an honorary doctorate. This is the major recognition since I became speaker.”