BUK Public Lecture: Mindset Change, Innovation Key to Sustainable Nigerian Universities
BUK Public Lecture: Mindset Change, Innovation Key to Sustainable Nigerian Universities
BUK Public Lecture: Mindset Change, Innovation Key to Sustainable Nigerian Universities
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni, has identified mindset change, institutional resilience and collective responsibility as critical foundations for building sustainable universities in Nigeria.
Professor Tsauni stated this while delivering the revived BUK Public Lecture titled “Development Dynamics and the Sustainability of Nigerian Universities,” where he challenged Nigerian universities to move beyond overdependence on government funding and embrace innovation, diversified revenue sources, strategic partnerships and long-term institutional planning.
He proposed a six-pillar framework for sustainable university development, centred on financial resilience, academic excellence, staff development, good governance, digital transformation and strategic partnerships.
The lecture marked the return of BUK’s Public Lecture Series after several years of inactivity under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, fsi.
In his remarks, Professor Musa said the revival of the lecture series would provide a platform for intellectual engagement, generation of new ideas and the development of sustainable strategies for the growth of the university.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted achievements recorded during his first year in office, including maintaining BUK’s position as Nigeria’s leading university in international outlook for the third consecutive year, ranking as the best university in Northern Nigeria and among the top three universities nationally.
He announced that the next public lecture, titled “Understanding Cancer, Pursuing a Cure,” will be delivered by Professor Abdullahi Sarki Abba on October 2, 2026.
Chairman of the occasion and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, described the lecture as timely, stressing that Nigerian universities must embrace sustainable development strategies to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging global academic environment.
A former Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello, attributed the university’s continued success in attracting external research grants to its culture of accountability and transparency.
Similarly, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa, urged Nigerian universities to think beyond conventional approaches and explore innovative solutions to their financial and institutional challenges.
Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, a Non-Executive Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, identified BUK’s credibility and strong reputation as among its greatest assets for attracting international partnerships, investment and funding.
The speakers collectively emphasised the need for Nigerian universities to strengthen their institutions, invest in people and technology, build credible partnerships and develop sustainable funding models capable of supporting academic excellence and long-term development.
BUK Public Lecture: Mindset Change, Innovation Key to Sustainable Nigerian Universities
