The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has awarded the Director-General (DG), National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, Prof. Jeffrey Barminas, as the best performing DG of the year, 2022.
The award was confered on him, during a courtesy visit to the Institute on Thursday by the students’ leaders, following what they termed as “holistic transformation of the Institute within a short period of time in office.”
NANS also passed a vote of confidence on Prof. Jeffrey-led management, describing him as an erudite professor, a patriotic citizen and a knowledge merchant whose impact was felt across board without any form of bias and other unwholesome behaviour.
The head of delegation, Comrade Usman Baba Kanika, who is the pioneer Secretary of NANS said Prof. Jeffrey emerged as the best performing DG after a careful study of his leadership skills, using the 3Cs of Consultation, Consolidation and Confrontation as a guide, adding that Nigeria need more ‘national assets’ like him for nation building.
He said, “On behalf of the armless battalion association of Nigerian students (NANS), I present to you this certificate of vote of confidence for your performance and adherence to federal character, fairness and patriotism. Without doubt, you’ve always distinguished yourself in all your assignment and we’re proud of you, wherever you found yourself you always make a difference.
“Our job is not just for the welfare of Nigerian students but also to see that those who are doing the right things are encouraged to do more. We are dynamic in making decisions and can also criticize vehemently those whose practices harm Nigerian students.
“We have a lot of Professors in Nigeria, yet you were chosen as the DG of this great institution because of administrative and professional expertise. We commend your integrity and pray for more higher assignments after here”
In his remarks, the DG appreciated NANS leadership for finding him worthy of such a prestigious award.
He noted that NANS without doubt has carried out holistic research about the Institute to have arrived at their findings.
While pledging to put in more efforts, he maintained that the reward for hardwork is to do more work.
Jeffrey said, “First and foremost, I really want to appreciate you for identifying with me. I am super excited. You are a force even though you’re an ‘armless battalion’. 40.1m students is not a joke. It is a big Army. you don’t need guns. What you need is knowledge, innovation and that I can say you have. You are a force that will change the narrative about Nigeria in terms of industrialization and economic growth.”
Mentioning some of his achievements barely five years in office, Prof. Jeffrey said, “We have a multi-chemical plant that we are building that will help us to produce a number of chemicals that will need here in Nigeria. We are starting with 109 Unity Schools and we are not going to stop at that. As a leader you must look at Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a place you must operate. You don’t look at a particular section. We are building six outstations all across the nation where our Technology will be domiciled. We have that in the Northeast. When you get to the Northeast now, we have an arm in Jalingo, Yola and we are building another Arm in Maiduguri.
“In the Northwest, we have outstations in Kano and Katsina. We have entrepreneurship development center there and there’s a collaboration with the German Government who took over one of the Project. In Northcentral we have facilities in Plateau and Nasarawa States. We have a tomato processing plant that we have started there at Caro.
“In Ogun state, we are building a fertilizer plant where we will produce organic fertilizer as we have here in Zaria. In the Southeast, Ebonyi state has the largest deposit of salt and we want to use that to produce a number of chemicals.
“The problem we are facing in this country is value chain. We like to take our raw materials and export them. It is not good. We must look inwards and think of what to do to better life of Nigerians. Your coming has given us the opportunity to work for Nigeria, an opportunity to work for our Governornment and the opportunity to see that the economic growth of this country is realized.”
