By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Permanent Representative of Nigeria at United Nations, Prof. Tijjani Bande, has advised Nigeria Scholars and the Nigeria Political Scientists Association to create platforms for honouring scholars to encourage more national development.
Bande who was the immediate past president of the UN General Assembly, made the appeal during a public presentation of books in honour of Prof Raufu Dunmoye after 44 years of service.
The event was organized by the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, in collaboration with the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Zaria on Saturday.
The two books presented in honour of Prof Dunmoye were `Etches of a Mentor’ and `Perspectives on Peace Building Security and Development in Africa’.
Bande was represented by Prof. Usman Tar, Director of the Center for Defence Studies and Documentation of the NDA
According to him, the National Association of Political Science Scholars should consider quarterly or annual conferences with a view of recognized scholars towards encouraging younger academicians to foster research for national development.
He added that such conferences, when organized, should put together the thoughts of those scholars and publish them.
This, he said, would further enable the scholars to know that their efforts and contributions were appreciated and the upcoming scholars would know that at the end of the finishing line there will be a “big thank you’’ waiting.
Earlier, Dr Rahanatu Lawal, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) said the department had two professors and two senior lecturers who retired between 2019 and 2021.
She said the department was committed to honor all the retirees with a book presentation similar to the one made in honor of Prof Raufu Dunmoye.
Lawal added that the department was starting Dunmoye because he was the first to retire among the four lecturers.
She, therefore, expressed her profound gratitude to the retired professor adding that during his active service he contributed to the development of the department through supervision, mentorship and course development among others.
In his remarks, Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor of the University said the books were touching in the area of security and development as we all know Nigeria was facing these challenges.
Bala, represented by Prof. Mohammed-Sani Shehu, Provost, College of Medical Sciences said solutions to these challenges should come from the academia.
“Books like these by specialists from the area should perversely ensure that solutions to these challenges were brought for national consideration; the university supports this and will always continue to support the gesture,’’ he said.
The vice-chancellor said the university wants other departments to emulate the department of political science and international relations in this regard.
However, Prof Rauf Dunmoye, (the honoree) expressed his appreciation to his colleagues and peers across the country over the honor.
“I look back at my more than four decades of service with nostalgia and happiness for leaving good, friendly and hardworking colleagues in the department.
“Differences of opinion do not necessarily lead to acrimony or differences in principles.
Dunmoye said the high standard of the common objective of producing students that would be disciplined and contribute to national development should be maintained.
