The pioneer chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu (CON), Emir of Kazaure, Jigawa State is set for installation.

In a release, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said that Governor Godswill Akpabio had approved the appointment of the Chancellor and scheduled his installation at the University Campus, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin LGA, for the October 6, 2011.

Mr. Umanah described Alhaji Najib Adamu as an astute administrator, a banker and lawyer by profession and until his appointment was the Pro-Chancellor of Katsina State University.

The Commissioner commended the State Governor and visitor to the University, Chief (Dr) Godswill Akpabio, for his tremendous support, including putting in place appropriate legislation, policy framework, funds and management team to ensure the progress of the university to the present status and thereby actualizing the dreams of her progenitors for a first class citadel of learning.

The Information boss, said Gov Akpabio’s vision for a technologically driven and industrial based economy informed the commencement of the University, “to rapidly facilitate the transformation of Akwa Ibom into an industrial society”.

He noted that the National Universities Commission, NUC, having been satisfied by the efforts of the State Governor, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, approved the commencement of academic activities at the institution and actually handed over the approval certificate to the state Governor on October 5, 2010.

It could also be recalled that, in the state government’s avowed resolve to put in place a management team to pilot the affairs of the university, the university Governing Council was inaugurated on September 23, 2010.

Mr. Umanah said that Akwa Ibom and indeed Nigerians are at the threshold of history as they witness the installation of the pioneer chancellor of the University.

He further stated that, given the socio-economic realities on ground, and in order to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Akwa Ibom People, major changes in concept and scope of operation of the university had become imperative. Although the philosophy of a technically-biased university was retained, the policy thrust of government shifted to the establishment of a conventional multi-campus institution.

He recalled that, on September 10, 2009 that the law establishing Akwa Ibom State University of Technology and Akwa Ibom State College of Agriculture were repealed by the State House of Assembly, and that on September 15, 2009, the bill establishing the Akwa Ibom State University was passed to take retrospective effect from June, 2009 and subsequently signed into law by the State Governor, Chief Dr. Godswill Akpabio.

Since then, the University has grown from strength to strength, positioning itself as one of the premier tertiary institutions in the country, and running its academic programmes according to global best practices. From the initial 27 buildings inherited from the defunct Model Science Secondary School, the university now has 57 structures. Also, based on the report from the meeting between the university and officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, several structures at the Obio Akpa Campus of the university were renovated to meet approved National Universities Commission (NUC) standard.

He said that, the Akwa Ibom State University has enjoyed tremendous goodwill from sister universities, notably the universities of Calabar, Uyo and Port Harcourt where notable academics were drafted to brainstorm and exchange ideas aimed at producing the university academic brief that met NUC minimum standard.

Today, the university runs academic programmes in four faculties namely; Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences and Faculty of Oceanography and Naval Architecture with pioneer student population of 300. The academic programmes of the university commenced on 1st November, 2010 while the first matriculation of the university was held on Saturday, February 26, 2011.