Be creative, FULafia V-C tells students
|By Yahaya Ahmed & Musa Ishaq
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, has advised students of the institution to be creative in order to be what he called “credential and potential graduates.”
The vice-chancellor gave the advise at the 2021 town and gown literary interaction of the Creative Writers’ Forum (CWF) of FULafia.
The Creative Writers’ Forum is an association that promote and maintains literary creativity and reading culture among students within and outside the University.
Prof. Abdul Rahman, who reminded the students that Nigeria was passing through some hard times ranging from youth unemployment to unrest, urged them to rise to the challenge by being creative so that they can be self-reliant on graduation.
The vice-chancellor, while thanking the leadership of the faculty of Arts for mentoring the students, urged the students to seize the opportunity provided by the academic environment to prepare themselves for the task of nation building.
He stressed the need for self-discipline necessary for serious academic pursuit, urging them to shun all acts capable of destroying their education while at the institution.
Abdul Rahman, while launching the maiden literary magazine of the Forum, promised the students that his administration would continue to support the Forum.
He also asked to be registered as a member of the association.
He appealed to the students to cooperate with the management of the University which he said was going through the process of rebuilding and repositioning.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Okpe Okpe, thanked the vice-chancellor for his presence at the event, saying that he showed his love for artistic creativity.
He said that CWF was one of the oldest associations in FULafia that seeks to help students to acquire skills to make them valuable in the labour market.
Okpe, while encouraging lecturers of the faculty to sustain their good works, thanked the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idris O.O. Amali, for his contributions in mentoring members of CWF since its inception.
On her part, the Head of Department, English Language, Dr Halima Idris Amali, thanked the vice-chancellor for honouring the event, saying that his presence would spur students interest of the forum.
Halima described creative writing as artistic experience that give meaning to peoples lives and encourages people to value cultures, peace, justice, equity and respect for humanity.
In his address, the President of Forum, Mr. Joshua Onuh, thanked the vice-chancellor and his management team for their support to the Forum.
He appealed to the management of the University for more collaboration to continue to promote literary reading within and outside the University.
The event showcased dynamic dancers, presentation of short stories, arts exhibition and inauguration of new executive, among others.
Among those who graced the event were Prof, Amali, Prof. Josephine Odey, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Victor S. Dugga, the Dean Postgraduate School, Dr Nasirudeen Baba, the Dean, Faculty of Science, other lecturers, staff and students.
