The Vice – Chancellor, University of Maiduguri Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi has been crowned as the Dan Rimin Kaltungo by His Royal Highness, the Mai Kaltungo and Deputy Chairman Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, Alh. Sale Muhammad Umar, OON.
The ceremony took place recently at the Mai Kaltungo’s palace in Gombe State.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Mai Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Muhammad Umar pointed out that the turbaning of Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi as Dan Rimin Kaltungo (Ambassador Plenipotentiary) was based on his numerous contributions to the development and growth of education both within and outside Kaltungo Chiefdom, stressing that his appointment as the Vice – Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri did not come to him as a surprise because Prof. Njodi always excels in whatever he sets his mind on.
He therefore charged the new title holder to continue to use his influence and wealth of experience in bringing about meaningful development to the people of the Chiefdom, the University of Maiduguri and the country at large.
In a citation read at the occasion, it was pointed out that Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi was born fifty years ago at Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State and attended L.E.A Primary school Kaltungo from 1967-1973 and later ECWA Primary school Kaltungo from 1973-1975.
He later proceeded to the Government Teachers College Jama’are in Bauchi State from 1975-1980. From 1981-1985 he was at the University of Maiduguri from where he obtained his B. Sc degree in Physical and Health education. He served in the National Youth Service Corps from 1985-1986.
Prof Njodi joined the services of the University of Maiduguri as Graduate Assistant in 1987 and enrolled and completed his Masters degree from 1988-1991 at the University of Maiduguri and later proceeded to the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka for his PhD in Public Health Education from 2000-2003.
He held various academic and administrative positions within and outside the country. As an astute scholar he has published books, chapters in books and also contributed by publishing over fifty articles in academic journals. He is widely respected by his colleagues, students and members of the society.
The turbaning was performed after the citation under the watchful eyes of His Royal Highness the Mai Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Muhammad Umar and was also the witnessed by members of the University of Maiduguri community that attended the ceremony, traditional rulers, illustrious sons and daughters of Kaltungo Chiefdom as well as friends and well-wishers from within and outside Gombe State.
The new Dan Rimin Kaltungo, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi in his response thanked the Mai Kaltungo, people of the Chiefdom and the community for finding him worthy to be bestowed with the traditional title of Dan Rimin Kaltungo. He assured that he would discharge the responsibilities the title demands of him and also pledged to work towards the development of the Chiefdom, State and the Nation.
The Dan Rimin Kaltungo then promised to work hand in hand with members of the Chiefdom and other traditional title holders in the state and other members of the community with a view to moving the Chiefdom and the state in general forward. He then used the occasion to call on the people of the Chiefdom to unite and shy away from tribal, religious and political bickering that brings about differences among people.
He then used the opportunity to announce the establishment and launching of an Educational Endowment Fund for the Chiefdom where the sum of over five million naira was realised as donations towards the Fund.
The money so realised and subsequent ones being expected from friends, well wishers and members of the Chiefdom, he said is will be used for the educational development of the Chiefdom where sons and daughters of the area who are from the less privileged will draw from the Fund.
The Mai Kaltungo is the Chairman of the Endowment Fund while members will be drawn from different segments of the Chiefdom.
Traditional dancers from various communities featured at the colourful ceremony after which the Dan Rimin Kaltungo rode on a horse to pay homage to the Mai Kaltungo and later proceeded to pay similar homage to members of his family after which he retired to receive friends and well-wishers.
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