For the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), life is not all about struggles.
It is not just about forcing government to do this and that.
It is also about showing a human face, and ministering to the cause of the needy.
The union did this on Thursday when it presented N100,000 to the best indigent student of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
The student, Miss Iqmat Popoola, is a 300-level student of Agricultural Economics.
Speaking while presenting the cheque to the beneficiary, Prof. Victor Osodeke, ASUU National President, said the gesture was the union’s way of helping indigent students in the pursuit of their academic careers.
He said Popoola was an outstanding student with a Cumulative Grade Point (CGP) Average of 4.47, adding that she was the type that should be employed immediately after graduation.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities about three years ago introduced indigent scholarship where N100,000 is given to such a student and we pick one student from each of the universities that are members of ASUU.
“For this young lady, Miss Ikmat Popoola is a 300 level student of Agricultural Economics of ATBU and she has a CGP of 4.47.
“Honestly, this is the type of people that should be recruited as soon as they complete their programmes in their university.
“These are the people we need in the system, not those who come through godfathers and godmothers.
“On that note, on behalf of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, we are presenting this token to you as our support towards the completion of your education,” he said.
In his address, ASUU Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Lawan Abubakar, explained that the national secretariat of ASUU is sponsoring an indigent student from each of six universities that make up the Bauchi zone.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, he further explained that ATBU was sponsoring three other indigent students with the same amount, while the University of Jos is sponsoring five students.
Others, he said, included Bauchi State University, Gadau sponsoring 10 indigent students, Gombe State University with six, while Plateau State University and Federal University, Kashere in Gombe, were yet to commence the presentation of this year’s awards to students.
In her response, Popoola thanked the union for its kind gesture, adding that she would make judicious use of the money for the purpose it was meant for
