The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Muhammad Bello, on Monday, said that honorary degrees awarded by the institution are not for sale but for deserving and outstanding Nigerians.
Mr Bello, who was reacting to the allegation that some prominent personalities are trooping into the institution to lobby for the honorary degrees, made the clarification during a pre-convocation briefing held at the institution.
According to him, the Senate and Governing Council of the University had decided not to award honorary degrees to personalities at the convocation ceremony, scheduled to hold next week.
“Going by the rule of the university, anybody who seeks honorary degree from BUK is automatically disqualified.
“It is not for sale. A number of people have approached us directly or indirectly, but we turned down their request.
“In order to maintain the high value and honour associated with such degrees, Bayero University senate and council have been limiting the number of honorarees, and the years when such awards are made,” he said.
The VC, however, disclosed that BUK would award various degrees and post-graduate diplomas to 8, 634 graduands, with 72 First Class graduates, including 5, 401 Bachelor degrees, 70, PhDs 1, 833 Masters Degrees and 656 Post-graduate Diploma certificates.
“In line with international best practices, the convocation ceremony will hold between April 3 and April 7, with the convocation lecture themed Leadership, Security, Democracy, and Development Challenges in Africa: Reflections by a Scholar-Diplomat.
“The lecture will to be delivered on Friday, April 6 by the Pro-Chancellor of the University and former Permanent Representative to the United Nnations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, under the chairmanship of Ambassador Alhaji Shehu Malami (Sarkin Sudan),” he pointed out.
Furthermore, he noted that in 2017 all the programmes that the university presented for accreditation by regulatory and professional bodies were approved. They include 15 undergraduate and eight postgraduate programmes.
