ENCOMIUMS IN HONOR OF PROFESSOR ALHASSAN MOHAMMED GANI, SECOND VICE CHANCELLOR, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF KASHERE,GOMBE STATE.

Today, an academic giant is exiting as the administrative head of one of Nigeria’s bourgeoning University, Federal University of Kashere Gombe State,(FUK), Northeast Nigeria.

The Kanam born scholar from Plateau State, from Plateau central senatorial zone to be exact, who doubled as the Danmasani Kaman emerged as Second Vice Chancellor ( VC Unikash) of the University on 10th February, 2016.
He came, he transformed, he transmogrified, he changed the status of things in the University and he conquered on an unmatchable grounds.

This epistemic and ontological documentation of deeds as VC FUK, is solely and exclusively from my direct observation of his extraordinary administrative and unparalleled activities and his dispositions as the second Vice Chancellor of the hallowed institution of learning since.

I am focusing on the best I have seen of him, I am not interested in the debate of whether FUK under his watch is the most developed among the 12 newly established Universities during the reigns of Emeritus President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (GEJ) in 2011.
All am concerned about is, this Professor did extremely and ‘outshiningly’ well.

My writing in his legendary honour is summarized in the following 18 key points and more. This scripted lines are not equal to the unscripted ones ones because, Prof Gani’s works to the school and his achievements are unquantifiable and uncountable. All I can say is congratulations to him for the job done profusely, profoundly, graciously and gracefully to humanity, especially to all academic citizens of the University. He is a Josite of good understanding.

1. The outgoing VC took office on 10th February,2016. He met 25 uncompleted projects initiated by his predecessor, this bulldozer academic completed the projects in no time. He is a man of action and a quintessential academic who believe in doing things both in time and on time. I salute him today for his outstanding role.
2. He initiated 20 key projects and completed them before his exit today. He is renewed record breaker and promise keeper.
3. He has 45 fundamental and key projects in his honour under 5 years of his VCship, this is huge and massive.
4. On 17th April,2018, he organized the first international conference in the University. The purpose of the conference with the theme: The Dynamics of Pastoral Nomadism in Contemporary Nigeria: Problems, Policies and Prospects, was to help the nation in finding solutions to the daunting insecurity problem caused by the face-off between headers and famers. A communique was drawn from the conference and Federal University of Kashere position was made known. The communique was sent to the Presidency. He said, the University as a research institution will not fold it arms or hands while this is happening, the war between carbohydrate and protein must stop especially in the Northeast where this University is sited, situated or located. He is a scholar that appreciate scholarship to the hilt.
5. He organized the first inaugural lecture of the 10 year old University, where he volunteer to present the novel inaugural address on behalf of the University. As a student of botany, he chose the topic: Our Ties With The Green World. The lecture took place on 9th February,2021 just about 24 hours to his exit as VC. This is a task that is huge and a sacrifice that worth emulating by all young academics. While his contemporaries in other Universities are busy with writing or preparing their handing over notes to their successors, this Vice Chancellor was engrossed in writing his inaugural speech. Thank you my VC for this academic sacrifice made to Unikash, staff of the University congregation and Fukites are very appreciative.
6. Because of his love for scholarship. The University community wrote a book in his honor. The 30 Chapters and over 400 pages book was lunched and presented in his honour on 9th February, respectively.
   The outgoing VC was honoured with a FESTSCHRIFT. This is a reward for good work indeed. Keep flying higher Professor of Professors in whom am well pleased.
7. The VC met just 4 faculties in the University and added one, that is faculty of management. He will be handing over 5 faculties to his successor today 10th February 2021.
8. Under his watch, many courses were accredited across the 5 faculties and new departments created as well.
9. The VC increased the number of staffers both academic and none academic alike. He sort for scholars across the globe.
   His employment of Lecturers to teach the students wasn’t only local but international in nature.
   He drew and brought scholars from the 36 States of the nation and the FCT.
   Federal University of Kashere staffers are not from one region of the nation or from a single region of the world,but from all over or across board.
   Why this is important is, some Vice Chancellors only build physical structures and play down on matter of staff employment. Prof Alhassan Mohammed Gani balanced the two. Manpower equal to available facilities on campus.
10. Under his watch, the number of students increased grandiosely because of the expansions he has ‘infrastructurally’ in the school.
11. He attracted the establishment of remote sensing department in Kashere.
12. He got approval from NUC to establish the postgraduate arm of the University. The school of PG school is doing well and the first batch of students will be graduating soon. This is a gigantic landmark and landslide achievements I must. People from Plateau are always outstanding. He is a worthy son of Plateau State.
13. He started the school of preliminary and General Studies (SPGS). The students there are doing extremely well.
14. The Vice Chancellor constructed good roads network across the campus and as an environment friendly Professor of botany, trees and flowers are well planted to add beauty, class and neatness to the school.
15. He succeeded in moving academic activities from the start-up campus to the permanent site.
16. As a good manager of scarce resources, he has done his part and contribute his quota to the development of the school despite paucity of funds and little internal generated revenue.
17. You thought about the University having an anthem, that is a reality today. Thanks Sir.
18. You cleared all graduates of the University who were delayed in their 3,4 and 5th convocation.

Now, the University has no issues with convocating students as when due. Even matriculating students in Unikash is no longer difficult. You are a father indeed to your students and academic seeds Prof. Well-done my oga at the top.

Writing tribute is good but the limitation is, one can’t write everything a giant like Professor Gani has done to this citadel of knowledge. I am sure that history will be kind to him in putting all his transcending achievements in black and white for the future generations of students and staffers to read.

In my perspective, humble view and position, despite what naysayers and ill-lookers cum onlookers will say, the second Vice Chancellor of FUK did remarkably and extremely well.

As he handover the baton to his successor today, I wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Since a professor can be appointed as VC more than one time, I present him willingly to any University in need of a transformer, educator, workaholic, excellent Administrator, cerebral thinker, an accomplisher of good works and deeds, quintessential gentleman of good reputation, a worthy academic of excellent endowment, a transcultural Nigeria, a worthy global citizen and amazing scholar with a scholarly understanding of the University system,a man that treat all human as equal despite their background, a Students friendly Professor, a friendly VC to his staff, humble and humane thinker and a world class Professor of botany to you.
Give him that institution of yours, he will transmogrified it in no time to a world class rank.

Farewell my Vice Chancellor. I will personally miss you. I Will always cherish your dual impromptu visits to my class as your staff; First at the 500 capacity auditorium during my lecture with the council members while facility inspection in our dear institution.

You interacted with my beloved students. You asked them questions on the topic and gave me a pat on the back for doing a good job.

Your second visit was during my GST invigilation, I cherish the warm professorial handshake from you on that faithful day my dearest VC in whom am well pleased.

Sir, I am proud of you and will always be because you stood out gallantly and passionately in service to the school community and to the nation. You are an enigma and your insolvency to laziness and Underdevelopment is well noted and acknowledged.

Thanks for everything you did during your stint as VC to put smiles on my staff faces and students faces accordingly. You will be remembered always for good and posterity will be very kind to you Sir.

Indeed, you can admire and love people from afar, this is the summary of this eulogies to my exiting VC.

I earnestly and sincerely look forward to hearing good news about you in Nigeria and across the globe Prof.

Keep the flag flying higher and higher to the zenith and apogee of heights Sir.

Walk out of the campus today as VC with your shoulder high due to pride of exemplary leadership. Raise your head higher when ever you are on campus after your post VCship holiday because you did all what you could have done during time, despite the one year lockdown emanating from the Covid19 scourge and pandemic cum the ASUU strike that crippled academic academic activities for 9 months. Congratulations Mr service provider.

Rwang Patrick Stephen,
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
A Political Scientist and a Promoter of the Good Seen in others.

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Rwang Patrick Pour Encomiums in Honor of Prof. Alhassan Moh’d Gani, 2nd Vice Chancellor Fed. University Kashere, Gombe State