Rabiu Omaku
The bold steps accorded to hostels development by the incumbent reign under governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state to end the trepidation faced by students of tertiary institutions in Nasarawa state ranging from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia are the worst hit citadel of learning with inadequate hostels while the Nasarawa State Polytechnic which has been existing for the past sixteen years still remain a day tertiary institution.
The good side of hostel development by the present administration would never be over emphasized looking at the significance of hostel in every tertiary institution and the nightmare faced by students, the building and expansion of hostels accommodation would reduce cult activities in our higher institutions of learning as well to bring all the tertiary institutions to bear and placing them on a higher pedestal as well bring succor to parents and guardians alike as chunk amount of money was expended on payment of house rent placing parents and students at the receiving end.
Better days awaits female students studying in Nasarawa State owned tertiary institutions as the State Governor,Umaru Tanko Al-Makura proclaimed that female students accommodation would be accorded topmost priority if the ongoing hostel accommodation are completed, he gave the disclosure during an inspection to the Nasarawa State University, Keffi early last year to ascertain the progress of project, Al-Makura lamented over the plight faced by female students especially those at off -campus.
“The preponderances of female students while crossing the highway are quite challenging”, He read riot act to the construction firm handling the ongoing project to keep to contractual agreement or risk revocation of contract, The Governor similarly inspected the ongoing hostel project at the State Polytechnic, Lafia, The holistic approach of the State Government to embark on the construction of hostel accommodation to the State owned tertiary institutions can be described as paradigm shift.
The twin hostel accommodation would house 600 students while the one at the State University will accommodates over 400 students, The worst of all was the absence of hostel since the establishment of the school in 2000 by the first executive Governor, Abdullahi Adamu who converted the famous missionary school to institution of higher learning.
The total absence of hostel accommodation in Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia and other tertiary institutions contributed to the rising spate of criminality and cult activities leading to the death of innocent souls, The absence or shortage of hostel accommodation has multiplier effect on parents and female students as colossal amount of money were charged by landlords, This situation compels female students to prostitution and other social vices.
One of the institutions that witnessed a bumper harvest in the last four years include the Nasarawa State Polytechnic which had accreditation of its Higher National Diploma programmes in Estate Management, Computer Science and among others, another frantic steps taken was the absence of convocation at all the tertiary institutions which were established since the creation of Nasarawa state in the old Plateau state.
While the report of the College of Agriculture, Lafia was not different being that the school has been existing for the past twenty years but without convocation rendering students hapless as all results obtained are mere statement of result, while in College of Education, Akwanga Governor Al-Makura tackle the lingering leadership tussle in the College, all the success story in all the institutions may not be unconnected to the report of the visitation panel.
Despite the success story in Nasarawa State Polytechnic and other institutions in the state, The Polytechnic for instance is in dire need of academic staff to man the affairs of the institutions, as it was authoritatively revealed that the acute shortage of academic staff is seriously affecting the academic performance of students ,insider unveiled that the worst department is Mass Communication, Urban and Regional Planning, to mention but a few, in spite of the numerous challenges facing higher institutions in the State, Governor Al-Makura no doubt remains the game changer.
This piece would not be complete without mentioning the commitment of the chief executive for the construction of twin hostels that would accommodates about 300 students, the completion work marks a new dawn in the College Of Education, Akwanga which is in dire need of hostel accommodations
Governor Al-Makura has set a standard for others to follow, the massive establishment of Taal Models schools as well as the mass renovation of schools is worthy of emulation ,the state has also succeeded
