By Titus Mangut

Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University Keffi, Professor Adamu Baikie has commended Bassa people for being a peaceful community.

Professor Baikie stated this at the launching of the maiden almanac of the National Association of Bassa Students (NABS) Nasarawa state university branch, in Keffi recently.

Represented by the head of department of political science, Associate Professor Shuaibu Adamu, the vice chancellor said Bassa students in the university have been ambassadors of peace, adding that there has been no report that any Bassa student was involved in any social vices.

He called on the students to face their studies with all seriousness and continue to behave well in order to achieve the purpose of their coming to the university.

Professor Baikie said a well-bred person was always an asset to himself, his immediate community and the larger society.

Professor Baikie assured the students that the university’s authority would continue to provide facilities that would create more conducive environment for learning.

Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Samson Daudu reminded the students to always note that there was strength in unity.

In his words "the force of working in unity can not be quantified, therefore, let unity be your watch word knowing fully well that far and near we are one."

He observed with dismay that younger generations of Bassa people cannot speak their dialect fluently which he said was the fastest way of losing once identify.

He said this problem has become worrisome to the Bassa as a people hence the need to address it with all seriousness. He suggested that a "Bassa dialect learning centre" be established for proper understanding of the language among Bassa people.

In his address, Barrister Victor Tukura said the gathering was a forum for the promotion and projection of the Bassa identity and not just almanac launching.

He called on Bassa students to stand up against any impediment that would hinder their progress as a people urging them to create awareness on the need for every Bassa child male or female to go to school.

He said in the 21st century, the greatest weapon for liberation was getting the right education.

Barrister Tukura who is the Personnel Assistant to the minister of labour and productivity appealed to the students to maintain peaceful co-existence with the university’s authority and other communities in the campus as a reflection of what the Bassa people are known for.

The acting director of litigation in the federal capital territory, Barrister Yusuf Wodi, lecturers, Egbirra students union, Eggon students union among others were in attendance at the occasion.