Higher Education is a period of advanced study following the completion of secondary education. The duration of the study may be from four to seven years or more, depending on the nature and complexity of the programmes pursued. The institution providing higher education may be either a college or university or a type of professional school. A junior or community college, such as those maintained by some state systems of higher education, offers a two year programme of general education and/or technical training that serves either as terminal schooling or as preparation for more specialised study in a four year college or university. When the basic course of study is successfully completed, usually at the end of four years, the graduate receives a bachelor’s degree. He or she may continue for a master’s degree, generally requiring an additional year or two, and then for a doctorate, which normally requires the candidate to submit a dissertation and to complete a minimum of two or three years of further studies. Higher education, which usually includes some general education, is a time for specialised study to qualify the individual for professional activity or for employment in higher positions in business, industry, and government. In recent years, especially in the United States, the trend has been toward requiring a greater number of courses common to all students in order to counteract a growing tendency toward overspecialisation.
As part of academic routine, College of Administrative and Business Studies, Potiskum, Yobe State has matriculated 727 Students admitted into various programmes of the College. The oath was administered by Senior Magistrate Mohammed Bilyamin. The occasion was performed at the College Convocation square which attracted important personalities from all nooks and crannies of the State. In the School of Business Studies; 35 Diploma in Business Administration, 35 National Diploma Business Administration, 24 Diploma Office Technology and Management, 10 National Diploma Office Technology and Management, 11 National Diploma Accountancy and 30 for DPA/A. While School of Administrative Studies Matriculated Students as follows; 37 Diploma Library and Information Science, 121 Diploma in Public Administration, 26 National Diploma in Public Administration and 23 Diploma Local Government. School of Social and Community Development has; 136 Diploma Health Administration, 159 Diploma Social Administration, 48 National Diploma Social Development and 32 Diploma Community Development. In his address on the occasion, the Rector of the College, Ali Goni Kadugum observed that they have noticed a slight increase in their enrolment. As compared to last year’s “this is as a result of the improved security situation of the State and the government policy of providing unemployment allowance to all indigenes with Diploma and Higher educational background in the State”.
He explained that considering the educational disadvantage of the State and the poor economic status of most Parents who are virtually peasant farmers, the Rector appealed to Yobe State government to come to the aid of its citizens by purchasing UME forms for all eligible candidates “I belief the ever listening administration of Ibahim Gaidam, humble as it is always, will surely permit the citizens of this state enjoy democracy dividend”. To the matriculating students he stated that they are lucky to have secured admission and should therefore reciprocate by sitting down to work hard and justify it. The Rector urged the matriculating students to study hard, live and abide by rules and regulations and obey constituted authorities in order to merit the award of the college’s certificate. “For being found worthy both in learning and character, I therefore implore you to work hard and adhere to laid down rules and regulations of the College, you are to shun drugs abuse, cult and other social vices.”
Fatimah Stephen, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.