The Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University, Sokoto (NWUS), Professor Mukhtar Umar Bunza, has said the institution was established to bridge Nigeria’s educational gap, particularly in the Northwest region.
Professor Bunza, a Professor of Social History, made this known on Monday while receiving members of the Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF), who paid an advocacy visit to the university.
According to him, NWUS was founded by former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, with a clear vision to address knowledge deficits in the region and beyond.
“NWUS was established to bridge the knowledge gap. It is important to note that the university operates one of the lowest tuition fee regimes in the country. Even before the establishment of the institution, the founder had been sponsoring hundreds of students both locally and abroad, and continues to do so,” Bunza said.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that Sokoto was deliberately chosen as the location of the university due to its historic significance.
“Sokoto, both in the past and present, has historic relevance that has positioned it as a cynosure of all eyes,” he added.
He further disclosed that the university plans to establish specialised centres and institutes aimed at addressing educational and knowledge gaps not only in the Northwest, but across Nigeria and globally.
“We are looking at establishing centres and institutes with a view to contributing our quota to societal development,” he said.
Professor Bunza also highlighted the strategic importance of the Northwest region, noting that it accounts for about 30 per cent of Nigeria’s voting population and possesses vast human and natural resources.
He assured the Sokoto Advancement Forum of the university’s readiness to collaborate with the group in advancing human development initiatives.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Professor Sani Umar, said SAF, a non-partisan association of professionals and technocrats, aimed at collaborating with individuals, corporate organisations, and institutions of higher learning, to drive sustainable development in Sokoto State.
Other members of the SAF present at the visit included Professor Auwal Inuwa, Barrister Sani Abubakar, and the Secretary-General of the Forum, Malami Ladan.
University officials in attendance included the Chief Librarian, Dr Faisal Mohammed; the Bursar, Garba Shinkafi; the Deputy Registrar, Bashir Garba; the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Mukhtar Hassan; and the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Umar Muhammad; and Deputy Provost, Jamil Lukman.
