By Hassan Ibrahim
The member representing Darazo/ Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro has constructed the state of the art facilities Study Centre and handed it over to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) named 'Soro Study Center'.
Speaking during the commissioning of the centre held Wednesday in Soro, Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Ayinde Peters, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Isaac Sammani Butswat, said that the Soro community study centre is designed to provide an optimal learning environment, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive resources to support every learner's journey, including modern study rooms comfortable and conducive spaces for individual and group study.
The centre was equipped with "Internet access and digital tools, high-speed internet and necessary digital learning tools for seamless online engagement.
“NOUN's E-Library: Access to NOUN's vast electronic library, offering a wealth of academic materials and resources. Dedicated support services to assist students with their academic pursuits with future programmes plans for workshops, seminars, and community outreach programs to enrich learning experiences," he said.
The Don explained that the Soro community centre is more than just a building, "it's a beacon of hope and opportunity designed to empower our community through education. It embodies our commitment to knowledge and skill development."
The VC said, "This study centre will provide distance learning students with a supportive environment, equipped with modern facilities and essential resources necessary for their academic success."
"The Soro Community Study Centre is set to become a vibrant hub for knowledge, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within the community. A local center for knowledge dissemination, research and crucial digital literacy training. Empowering youth and adults with essential skills for improved employment prospects and entrepreneurship. Strengthening community bounds through shared educational goals and collaborative learning," the VC added.
In his remarks, Hon Mansur Manu Soro said that the establishment of the centre was borne out of the need to expand access to tertiary education to good people of Darazo-Ganjuwa federal constituency, Bauchi central senatorial district and indeed the entire North-Eastern zone of Nigeria.
The lawmaker explained that the centre is built on a span of approximately 10 hectares of land, housing elaborate structures capable of accommodating 1,000 undergraduates.We are gathered here today for the sake of education and the importance of education to socio-economic development of any given society can never be over emphasized. Education remains the only means through which nations can emancipate themselves from the shackles of poverty and attain greatness.
The lawmaker noted that the centre will serve the multiple purpose of providing tertiary education and skilled vocations to mitigate the impact of youth joblessness and redundancy, "In furtherance of our resolve to mitigate the negative impact of youths jobless and redundancy, we have resolved to deepen our partnership with the NOUN, the Government of Bauchi State to designate entrepreneurship development and vocational studies department within the centre to run quick wins programs and create jobs for self dependency."
Manu Soro further disclosed that Darazo-Ganjuwa federal constituency, Bauchi State and indeed the North-East zone has suffered years of neglect and marginalization in the distribution of national resources and critical developmental projects, hence the need for the constituency, the state and the zone to leverage on education to emancipate ourselves.
Manu Soro said, "The commissioning of the National Open University of Nigeria, Soro Centre the first of its type in the entire Bauchi central senatorial district will add to the plethora of our legacy intervention projects in the education sector, having intervened previously in the basic and secondary education levels in the year 2021 through the establishment of 4 Gifted Senior Secondary Schools and 1 Special Primary School in Sade, Soro, Kafin Madaki, Darazo and Lanzai respectively."
He continued, "The 5 tuition-free schools serve as incubators for the best brains of Darazo-Ganjuwa federal constituency, training our younger ones for tomorrow's leadership as well as providing succour to vulnerable children at the primary level.
In our modest efforts to sustain the operations of the 5 schools and to provide the students and pupils with free uniforms, books, bags, shoes, annual pocket money of N10,000 per head, settlement of NECO fees and support the teachers and health facilities, we have spent about N100million over the last 4 years.
On his part, the District Head of Soro, represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Hamza, thanked the lawmaker for various interventions in healthcare, agriculture and education that have direct bearing to the development of the people not only in his constituency but across the state and the country in general.
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