Former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, has opposed plans to convert Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, into a conventional university, describing the move as a step backwards.

Bogoro spoke on Thursday during a ceremony to rename the university’s Senate Building after its second Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Buba G. Bajoga, who died in a London hospital on February 5.

He argued that ATBU remains one of Nigeria’s flagship institutions for science and technology and should retain its specialised focus.

“When some people suggest that ATBU should be reverted or revised into a conventional university, I strongly reject it,” he said.

“ATBU is one of the best institutions for science and technology. Many of Nigeria’s finest scientists and engineers were trained here. To convert it to a conventional university is to embrace backwardness.

“For me, such a suggestion is a direct affront. ATBU has long been recognised as one of the leading technology universities in this part of the country.”

The event also honoured the late Prof. Bajoga for his foundational contributions to the growth of the university.

Bajoga, a former Managing Director of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), was credited with laying a solid academic and administrative foundation for ATBU, as well as contributing to Nigeria’s telecommunications development by expanding connectivity and bridging the digital divide.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, described Bajoga as the architect of the university’s formative years.

“With vision, firmness, and dedication, he transformed a young institution into a centre of excellence in Bauchi and beyond, producing graduates who have excelled in their respective fields,” Garba said.

He added that under Bajoga’s leadership, the university experienced growth in curriculum development, infrastructure, and talent development.

“He embodied the pioneering spirit of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa—resolute, inclusive, and forward-looking—laying foundations that we continue to build upon with pride,” he said.