Press Release: University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal “Opens for Business”

The 15th of March 2012 is a historic day in the life of the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal. On this memorable day, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit opened the new Administration building on Mathiang’s Campus. The building houses Vice Chancellor’s office and that of the Principal, as well as offices for Personnel Secretary, Financial Controller, and General Administrative Staff. The building also contains a newly refurbished computer lab and English language training lecture room. Two rooms are available to accommodate staff offices or used as lecture halls. The day also marked the official launch of short courses in English and IT offered by the University for capacity- building in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.

Our joys are multiplied because on this occasion, we are very honoured to have our President and the Chancellor of the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal and indeed the Chancellor and custodian of all South Sudan universities, to open the new Administration building and declare the start of short courses on our campus for the first time since the creation of this institution in May 2010 – when the Vice Chancellor was appointed and University Act 2010 was passed in June 2010 by National Legislative Assembly, the Republic of Sudan.

It is a historic moment in the life of the University because with the stamp of approval of our President and the Chancellor of the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, the lingering stigma and the ghost that has been chasing us in this University since our country’s independence in July 2011; namely that this University and others like it, were Bashir’s, Inqaz’s, or 2010 elections’ gimmick or machinations; and hence, according to such views, the new universities that were created in the same year are not worth the attention and support they deserve from our government. This stigma, we believe, will henceforth be buried once and for all.

Today, with of the approval of the President of the Republic, the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal is hundred percent a South Sudan public university! It no longer symbolizes bondage and oppression, but that of freedom. It is no longer part of our developmental problems, but part of solution to many of our developmental challenges. It is no longer a “project” to be shelved away from sight of government’s radars and current priorities in order to rot and be eaten up by moth; but has become an institution which is here to stay and to carry out its designated mission, with full budget and moral support of our government. Indeed, this is a turning point for good for the future of higher education in our country because this is a move in the right direction and a sign of visionary leadership.

There is no nation in the history of humanity that has strove hard to provide more opportunities for its citizens to earn university degrees and regrets it. Not once, never.

Our vision at the University of Northern Bahr El Ghazal is to establish a learning institution that will provide ultimate university experience to students and faculty through the excellence of its educational and research programmes.

While setting up the new University, it is our vision to create an urbanizing force in a rural or semi-urban region generating employment, changing lifestyles and raising aspirations.

Since creation of the University, we have drafted our academic regulations and designed curricula for 9 academic programmes and submitted them to specialized committees in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (the Republic of Sudan) in June 2011, for four proposed Faculties which are:
• Faculty of Architecture and Physical Planning
• Faculty of Petroleum Engineering and Earth Sciences
• Faculty of Health Sciences and Medical Technology
• Faculty for Preparatory, Human Resource Development, and Vocational Studies

We are also working towards including education and agriculture programmes among the programmes that will be established in the next five years in order of national development priorities and availability of resources for setting up a particular programme.

Before concluding, we would like to express our greatest thanks to the President of the Republic, Lt. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit for opening the University officially.

We would also like to publicly acknowledge and express deepest appreciation for the unwavering support offered to the University by the Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, Lt. Gen. Paul Malong Awan.

Finally, the University administration would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Technology, the Republic of South Sudan, to respect the independence and autonomy of universities and to be seen to facilitate their progress.
God bless South Sudan.
University Administration