SAZU Intensifies Research, Innovation Drive Through Staff Capacity Training
By Ahmed Ahmed
The management of Sa’adu Zungur University has reaffirmed its determination to strengthen research development, innovation, and collaboration with industries as part of ongoing efforts to advance academic excellence and provide practical solutions to societal challenges.
This commitment was reiterated during a three-day Stepdown Training Workshop on Research Administration, Industry Collaboration and Commercialization organized by the Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation (CERI) at the university’s Gadau Main Campus.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Fatimah Tahir, said continuous training and retraining of staff remained essential in building a productive and innovative academic environment.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Bala Ma’aji Abdulhamid, the Vice Chancellor explained that the workshop aligned with the Federal Government’s policy direction aimed at ensuring that research findings are transformed into practical solutions capable of addressing industrial and societal needs rather than remaining unused in laboratories.
She noted that the university was committed to equipping academic staff with modern research skills and knowledge necessary for institutional growth and sustainable national development.
According to her, the institution would continue to encourage partnerships with relevant organizations and stakeholders to enhance innovation and community impact.
Professor Tahir also recalled that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund had sponsored some staff members of the institution for specialized research and development programmes last year, adding that the current workshop was designed to enable beneficiaries transfer the acquired knowledge to other academic staff.
Earlier, the Director of CERI, Dr. Usman Waziri, disclosed that the Vice Chancellor approved the workshop to expand the benefits of the earlier TETFund-sponsored training and ensure broader participation among staff members.
He revealed that about 64 academic staff from different faculties and departments participated in the programme alongside participants from other tertiary institutions in Bauchi State, including Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Aminu Sale College of Education, and Federal University of Health Sciences.
Dr. Waziri explained that the university fully sponsored the workshop as part of measures to improve research capacity, strengthen institutional partnerships, and boost the university’s competitiveness nationally.
The training featured expert presentations on research administration, commercialization, academia-industry collaboration, innovation management, emotional intelligence, university-community partnership, and strategies for building sustainable research collaborations.
Participants also engaged in interactive sessions and group presentations designed to assess their understanding of the concepts discussed.
Stakeholders at the event stressed that effective collaboration among academia, industries, and communities remained vital for addressing societal problems, promoting economic growth, and accelerating development in Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole.
