By Palma Ileye
Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has encouraged the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, FCHDK, to introduce new academic programs and strengthen vocational skill training such as tailoring and related trades saying that this will help to expand learning in such fields.
Dabban who stated this during a familiarization visit to the College in Dandinkowa, Gombe State, expressed satisfaction with the College’s rapid progress also urging unity and cooperation to achieve success.
The Executive Secretary noted that releasing Dr. Umar Umar to come and act as the Provost was not an easy decision, but the achievements so far has justified the move.
Responding to the issues raised by staff and unions, the Executive Secretary advised the Provost to apply for waivers to address payments for casual staff and other internal expenditures.
He said, “It was not an easy decision to bring Dr. Umar A. Umar here but I am satisfied with his achievements just 3 months in acting capacity. On the issue of payment, absorb qualified casual staff into the Federal payroll, this will help ease the burden while also having the best hands to do the job.”
To sustain ongoing publicity and community engagement, Dr. Dabban also revealed that efforts are underway to ensure that ARCN Colleges were included in the TETFund intervention scheme, with an MOU proposal currently under consideration.
On his part, Dr. Aliyu Shuaibu Madugu, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics disclosed that funds to be released under the new MOU with TETFund would be targeted exclusively at research and staff development.
Also, Barr. Shehu Aliyu, Legal Adviser to the Council who was also among the entourage advised the Management, Staff and union to carry out their activities in line with the laws establishing the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria saying that this will help reduce numbers of litigtion.
Listing key achievements in the College, Acting Provost said that there was improved visibility of the College through enhanced engagement with the host community, traditional rulers, media organizations, and social media platforms to boost enrollment.
He said, “Strengthened internal communication among Management, academic staff, non-academic staff, unions, and casual workers and enhanced security and communication systems, including activation of official information channels was also achieved in the 3 months stay.”
He said that his assumption to office gave birth to the reactivation of abandoned infrastructure, such as greenhouses and other key facilities, repair of three staff buses, significantly easing transportation for staff and students.
He said that the school has also established the Academic Planning Unit, described as the “engine room” of the College; Implementation of the 500 Farmers Initiative, a program currently underway for seedling production.
However, the Acting Provost appealed to the Executive Secretary for intervention in addressing the College’s low overhead allocation, noting that the institution currently borrows funds to pay casual and security personnel.
The Deputy Provost provided an overview of the College’s facilities and academic programs, reaffirming the full support of management and recommending that Dr. Umar be confirmed as the substantive Provost.
He assured that all ongoing projects would be completed within one month and encouraged staff to sustain the harmonious working environment established under the former Provost, Dr. Babaworu Mamoud Ali and sustained by the present acting Provost.
On their part, the Management and Units Heads, commend the Provost’s leadership as they unanimously commended Dr. Umar’s transformational leadership.
The tour according to a press release signed by Khadijat Ameen, Head, Public Relations, ARCN, was also extended to the Emirate Council of Yamaltu, where the Emir of Yamaltu, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu applauded the effort of the Executive Secretary in changing the face of the college also praying for smooth and cordial working relationship between ARCN and the Acting Provost Dr. Umar A Umar.
Highpoint of the event was the inspection of College facilities by the Executive Secretary and his team.
