ATBU VC Recommends Drug Tests for Students, Lecturers to Sanitise Universities

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi 

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Prof Muhammad Ahmed Abdulazeez, has called for drug tests for students and academic staff to ascertain their mental health conditions and sanitise the system. 

He said this while delivering his valedictory speech at the Senate Building, Gubi Campus, Bauchi. 

“If the students are to be subjected to drug tests to determine their mental health status, nothing is wrong if the lecturers too are subjected to the same test,” said Abdulazeez. “That is the only way to check excesses in the university system.”

The outgoing VC expressed confidence that if it is done, sanity will be brought back to the university campus across the country, promoting academic excellence and sanctity in line with the objective of establishing the University system. 

“I have indeed, by the grace of the Almighty, played my own part in our collective effort towards improving academic excellence in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University as its vice-chancellor,” Abdulazeez explained. “I promoted academic excellence in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University as its vice-chancellor.” 

He added that the modest achievements “we have recorded in the areas of infrastructural development, academic content development and community services could not have been possible without the support of all stakeholders in the system.” 

The vice-chancellor commended the management, staff and students for cooperating with his administration. 

He announced that the university’s Senate had elected Prof. Sani Usman Kunya to take over from him as the acting vice-chancellor, pending the election of a substantive VC.

“This election received the blessing of the federal government. Prof Sani Usman Kunya is currently the deputy vice-chancellor (Academics). While I take my exit today, I wish my incoming successor a fruitful tenure,” Abdulazeez stressed. “I want to urge for the same support accorded to my leadership to be extended to him so that he can succeed in building a stronger ATBU. Thank you and may Allah bless us all.”

In his acceptance speech, Kunya said, “Today is, indeed, a special day for me as I bow to take the onerous responsibility of acting in the position of the vice-chancellor of our great university. It is a special day because it marks the beginning of the responsibility you, the Senate, have bestowed on me on behalf of our community.”

He added, “Therefore, I will like to express my gratitude to the Senate of the university for finding me worthy of this honour and to the federal government of Nigeria for the confirmation of your free will.”