Monday, November 27, 2006

I'll retire to teaching, says Atiku

CONTRARY to expectation in many quarters, Vice President Atiku Abubakar on retirement from public office will head for the classrooms to become a teacher.

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The Vice President disclosed the ambition of his yesterday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital at the founders' day celebration of the ABTI-American University of Nigeria (AAUN), which he founded.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) this is the university the Vice President is planning retiring to as a teacher.

The Vice President said the masterplan of the school made provision for the founder's residence.

He explained that the school was not accessible to the poor, because it was conceived to capture the category of Nigerians who sent their children to the U.S.

He said he had built several community schools for both primary and secondary education in his town, Ganye, in Adamawa to provide education to rural poor.

Vice President Abubakar explained that he decided to provide the American type of education because of what the country stood to gain from it and said the U.S. was the most advanced country in the world and the only super power.

"I believe that this greatness is brought about by education," he added.

He commended the pioneer students and faculty of the school for their doggedness in ensuring that the university took off.

Earlier in a tribute, Chairman of AAUN board of trustees, Dr. Ahmed Joda, flayed a section of the country that treated women education with disdain.

"I am not happy with our attitude to female education because it means that half of the population will not participate in development," he said.

Joda commended Atiku for setting up the school and explained that it was an effort to uplift the human being.

The President of AAUN, Dr. David Huwiler, who also spoke, said that with the university, "Nigerian students can now, in Yola, acquire the type of education that is available in Europe and America."

Founder's Day is a traditional celebration in the U.S. universities, which recognises the founding of the university, the vision of those instrumental in its founding and the dedication of those who carry out its traditions.

AAUN was established by the Vice President in collaboration with the American University, Washington and its first set of students are currently in their second year.