Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa on Friday appointed former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the pioneer Chancellor of the newly established Jigawa State University in Kafin Hausa.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Haruna Wakili, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse.
Wakili said the State Government had sent a delegation to present the appointment letter to the former President at his country home in Abeokuta.
He explained that the appointment was based on Section 8 of the Jigawa State University Law, 2013.
Wakil said that Section 2 of the Second Schedule of the law also supported the appointment.
The two sections, he said, vested on the Visitor of the University the powers to appoint Chancellor for the institution.
He added that extensive consultation was made before reaching the decision to appoint Obasanjo as the pioneer chancellor of the university.
“The government arrived at the decision after due consideration of his immense contributions to the making of modern Nigeria; as former military head of state and two terms democratically elected President.
“Obasanjo is an internationally recognised and respected elder statesman and indeed an eminent personality of proven integrity who served his country to the peak, diligently, selflessly and sincerely,” he said.
The commissioner stated that he was part of the delegation that presented the letter to the former president.
“I am therefore glad to inform you that the former President had accepted the appointment and assured the governor and people of Jigawa of his readiness to serve.