BAUCHI, Nigeria – Muhammad AbdulAziz, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, in Bauchi State, has proposed mandatory drug testing for university lecturers.
This suggestion was made during his valedictory speech at the university’s Senate handing over ceremony to his successor, Prof. Sani Kunya, the new Acting Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. AbdulAziz emphasised the importance of extending the Federal Ministry of Education’s recent initiative, which mandates drug tests for students seeking university admission, to include lecturers as well.
He argued that this would help maintain the sanctity and academic excellence of the university system.
“If students should undergo drug tests, I believe that even some of us, the lecturers, need to undergo the same test so that we know our status,” he stated.
The proposal aims to mirror the standards set for students to ensure that educators are equally prepared and mentally fit to guide their charges effectively.
“We also have to volunteer ourselves to have this test done on us because we have to sanitize the university. That is the only way to check excesses in the university system,” AbdulAziz added.
During his tenure, AbdulAziz noted his administration’s achievements in infrastructural development, academic content enhancement, and community service, attributing these successes to the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders within the university community.
He also expressed his gratitude to the federal government and its agencies, including the National Universities Commission and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, for their support.
The new Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sani Kunya, acknowledged the Senate’s confidence in his capabilities and pledged to continue building on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor.
“I want to assure you that, I will justify the confidence reposed in me by not disappointing you all. I shall do everything within my capability to maintain and improve academic excellence,” Kunya affirmed.
