The Vice-Chancellor of the Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS), Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, has advised the Sokoto Jamaatul MuslimIn Foundation not to entertain the concept of “it is not possible” in its efforts to establish a university.
He advised the leadership of the Foundation’s courtesy visit to NWUS on Tuesday.
Prof. Bunza also advised the Foundation to establish a technical committee guided by the regulatory framework of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and best practices in higher education governance, particularly for a private university.
According to him, “the committee’s work will include preparing and validating required documents such as the letter of intent, academic brief, university master plan, feasibility study, and draft statutes; liaising with the NUC and other relevant government agencies to guide the institution through the licensing, resource verification, and accreditation processes.
“It is the committee that will design the academic architecture of the university, including defining the vision, mission, philosophy, and governance structure; developing initial academic programmes in line with national manpower needs; designing curricula that meet NUC Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS); and proposing staffing plans, admission policies, and quality assurance mechanisms.
“In the same vein, the committee should assess and plan the physical, financial, and administrative infrastructure required for take-off and long-term sustainability, including campus location and development plans, ICT and laboratory requirements, staffing and operational costs, funding models, endowment strategies, and risk management. The goal is to demonstrate to regulators that the university is financially viable, well-resourced, and capable of sustainable growth,” Prof. Bunza said.
“Do not listen to those who would tell you, ‘This is not possible.’ Remove anyone whose actions imply that establishing a university is not possible. In fact, it is possible,” he further said, adding that NWUS and, indeed, its founder, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, will be ready to collaborate with the Foundation.
“Our Founder, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has always supported Sokoto State, the Northwest region, and the nation at large in the area of education, among many other sectors. I can proudly say that Magatakarda is unequalled in this endeavour.”
Speaking earlier, the leader of the Foundation’s delegation, Muhammad Bello Danmalam, said they were at NWUS to discuss the institution’s modus operandi, noting that its growth within three years is encouraging. He added that the Foundation was operating nursery, primary, and secondary schools offering both Islamic and modern education.
“The Sokoto Jama’atul Muslimin Foundation and NWUS have the same vision of promoting education in the former Northwest. Also, there is no private university, especially for females,” he said.
He revealed that the Foundation has sponsored many students, especially females, who have become consultants, nurses, doctors, and veterinarians. “So far, there are 37 medical doctors and 15 veterinary doctors that we sponsored. We are presently working to establish a female university of medicine,” Danmalam said.
Members of the Foundation’s delegation included Prof. Dahiru Muhammad Yusuf, Muhammad Sambo Yusuf, Dr Abubakar Umar Maihankali, Adamu I. Abdullahi, and Prof. Moukhtar Alhaji Umar.
