The Pro-Chancellor of the Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State, Dr. Andrew Yakubu La’ah has advocated the creation of a department or centre of Kwararafa History for historical documentation of Kwararafa Kingdom at the university.
A former Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited (NNPCL), Laah, who was awarded a honorary doctorate in Science, said the centre will preserve the Kwararafa cultural history as a foundation for a progressive future.
He explained that, understanding historical roots is significant in shaping a promising future, adding: “If we do not know where we are coming from, we may not likely know where we are going”.
The former GMD added that being a descendant of the great Kwararafa Kingdom inspired him to advocate for the creation of the centre, stressing that it would open room for historians across the world to visit the university for more authentic insight on the history of the kingdom.
La’ah also explained the need for cultures in the Middle Belt and across the country to embrace their rich cultural heritage as a means of positioning themselves as leaders rather than just following the global trend.
He said: “For us to stand out as a unique kingdom, and to compete with other cultures across the globe, we must invest and celebrate our unique cultural heritage.
“While the world should be competing with us as first-generation leaders in culture and creativity, we have abandoned that position. It is time to do things differently by investing in uplifting our culture.
“The ultimate aim is to make the university self-sufficient and better positioned to serve the community’s educational needs.
“We will come up with a scheme to enhance the teaching and learning environments within the school and give the students access to high-quality educational opportunities”.
The school was founded in 2005 as a community-based university, by the Jukun chiefdom, under the leadership of the paramount ruler, the Aku Uka, to
focus on students’ intellectual and moral development.
