The proposed Solid Minerals Research and Training Centre, Kwara State University, Malete, has been named after the Chairman of Kursi Investment Ltd, Amb. AbdulFatah Yahaya Seriki-Gambari.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Omololu Fapojuwe, informed journalists Wednesday shortly after a meeting with top officials of the mining company, where the duo discussed the establishment of the research centre.
He said, “The naming of the Centre in honour of Ambassador Yahyah AbdulFatah Seriki-Gambari is to thank him for the good gestures he has been doing to the institution and to urge him not to relent, the particular Centre is named in honour of him as the centre is his area of interest.
On the partnership proposal, he said, “The goal of the partnership between KWASU and Kursi Investment is to grow the institution to a greater height and to write Kursi Investment as a company in gold in the business world.
“We are trying to expand and build a world class University, and to do that, we need the community to rally round us to achieve our purpose.
“One of the ways to get this done is to recognize someone like the Ambassador (Seriki-Gambari) who has been helping our institution and to submit a proposal so that we can work together for the progress of the institution.
“I can assure you that as a University of community development, communities would be gaining a lot from this partnership, as youths and students would be trained in the area of mining, and those already minning illegally and unprofessionally could come to the center for proper training.”
Speaking earlier during the meeting, the Kursi Farms’ Managing Director, Hajia Fatimah AbdulFatah, who appreciated the varsity’s visiting team, assured them that they would look into their partnership proposal.
She said, “The proposal would be looked into carefully to see how we can partner with the institution, most especially in the aspect of solid minerals which is our area of key interest.”
“On the aspect of business proposal for the farms, it would be looked into and we would get back to you.”
The Chairman of the Company, Ambassador AbdulFatah Yahyah Seriki-Gambari, in a mini exhibition show, handed over some raw mineral resources extracted by the company to staffers of the institution.
He said, “The mineral resources are extracted from Kwara and large production will commence in few weeks time. This would be the first of its kind in Kwara’s history.
“Several institutions have approached us for partnership but KWASU would be given much more priority as an indigenous institution that serve the interest of Kwarans.”
He consequently passed a vote of confidence on the Vice-Chancellor and urged the varsity management to partner more investors.
