Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State says many schools in Katsina State are a den of bandits and have been closed due to security concerns.

He said this on Saturday during the 7th and 8th combined convocation ceremony of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, stating that there is no education without security.

“Many of our frontline local governments have had their schools closed due to banditry and in some cases, schools have become a den for bandits,” he said during the event.

“This is why we have established the Katsina State Community Watch Corps to fight insecurity and create a foundation for our youth to learn and thrive.”

Radda who was the Chief Host in the ceremony, reminded the graduating students to remember that they are not just graduates but the torchbearers of progress as they step into the world armed with education and a spirit of inquiry.

“Your education is not just a personal achievement; it is a tool for community development and nation-building. Remember, the end of your academic journey at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma is not the end of learning. It is, in fact, the beginning of a lifelong journey of growth and contribution. I encourage you to be lifelong learners, to be adaptable, and to use your skills and knowledge to uplift our state and our country.

“I would like to use this opportunity to reassure Mr. President and the people of Katsina State that our commitment to education is unwavering. In the 6 months, we have been in government, my administration has employed over 7,000 teachers, spent over N2 billion to rehabilitate 361 schools, constructed 75 secondary schools under the AGILE program, and committed to launching 3 model schools as promised in my campaign.

“We will focus on total education reform with the establishment of an Education Services Delivery Unit to ensure quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation of our education system.

“My administration has made out-of-school children a main priority and we will continue to work with all partners to reduce the numbers. We will also work with religious schools to provide academic tools for students in a bid to prepare them for the world ahead.

On his part, the visitor and President Bola Tinubu restated full commitment and determination to combat all forms of terrorism such as kidnapping, banditry, and other crime and criminality in the country, especially in the North-West.

This however, he said, cannot be achieved without the support and cooperation of Nigerian citizens as security, he believed, is a collective responsibility.

Tinubu who was represented during the ceremony by the Vice Chancellor of the Dutse State University Jigawa State Professor Mohammed Abdulkarim appealed to Nigerians to help the government in fighting insecurity by giving useful information to security agents.

According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration is aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a leading Nation in Africa, adding that his administration is committed to tackling the challenge of unemployment particularly among the teeming graduates in the country.

“I assure all Nigerians that the government is greatly concerned about the security situation in the country,” he said.

“The government is also working hard to unlock the potential in the agricultural and mining sectors of the economy and provide loans for graduates who are willing to go into agriculture.

“Federal University Dutsin-Ma is located in a strong agrarian community, known for grains and crops production. I, therefore, charge the university to provide the leadership needed in research to produce improved agricultural varieties and give required agricultural extension support to the local farmers to enhance their productivity and economic viability,” he added.

The graduates have been told to become employers of labour instead of waiting for white-collar jobs.

The Chancellor of the University His Majesty King Jaja of Opobo Dandeson Douglas Jaja while declaring the convocation open, urged the graduants to be good ambassadors of the FUDMA and the country wherever they may find themselves as they enter the larger society to start a new life.

He also charged them to take advantage of the Federal Government’s huge opportunities to become self-employed and employers of labour rather than chasing white-collar jobs.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi charged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the University and the country in whatever endeavor and wherever they may be.

He advised them to deploy the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the University to excel and face the challenges that may come their way.

In this combined convocation ceremony, one hundred and twelve (112) students of the University bagged first class as 4,365 undergraduate students graduated.

Out of this number, 1,131 secured second class upper, 2,476 secured second class lower and 646 students secured third class.

At the convocation ceremony, the former governor of Katsina State Ibrahim Shema; the Emir of Daura, HRH Umar Faruq and the Emir of Bichi Nasiru Bayero were honored with honourary degrees of Dr. of Law (Honaris Causa), Dr. of Letters (Honaris Causa) and Dr. of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) respectively.

They were believed to have distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavors and have contributed to the growth and development of the university.

One of the award recipients and former governor of Katsina State Ibrahim Shema said the award is a challenge to use their knowledge, skills, and talents to help Nigeria overcome its contemporary challenges of insecurity, high unemployment, poverty, and spiraling inflation accompanied by ever-rising cost of living among other socioeconomic indicators.