BUK establishes renewable energy, infectious disease centres, others

BAYERO University Kano (BUK), has established a Centre for Renewable Energy, as part of a strategic innovation to explore independent alternative energy to power the university. Similarly, the university has also established a Center for Infectious Disease, to facilitate research, and management of epidemics in Kano.

The centre, when fully operational will complement the state-owned Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), which capacity has been overwhelmingly stretched.

Briefing newsmen on developments in the university in the last five years, its vice chancellor, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, said the school has broken new grounds in the areas of research development, innovation and academic programmes.

Rasheed hinted that the school has established nine new research centres in the areas of science and technology, as well as human and community development service.

The VC noted that, “ When we assumed duty in 2010, we inherited only two research centres-the namely Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training (Mambayya House) and Center for the Study of Nigeria Languages.

“But in our effort to make Bayero University an institution of international standing in teaching and research, we have established nine additional research centres and institutions in the last five years,” said the vice chancellor.

The centres are Centre for Dry Land Agriculture, Centre for Biotechnology Research, Centre for Advance Medical Research and Centre for African Entrepreneurship Research and Training. Others are Centre for Quranic Studies, Center for Islamic Civilization and Inter-faith Dialogue, International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance and Centre for Gender Studies.

Prof. Abubakar expressed satisfaction that already the centers were making tremendous impact in their areas of expertise, adding that some have already attracted international recognition and funds to yield expected results.

“For example, just last week I was in Abuja to sign the papers for the release of $7m World Bank grant for our Centre for Dry Land Agriculture.

The centre had earlier secured a $8m grant from the MacArthur Foundation of United States and another $150, 000 grant from another international agency.

“Our Centre for Quranic Studies has also secured aN5m grant from Australia for its activities. We are glad to inform you that our centres are getting support from various sources,” Prof. Abubakar emphasised.

Citing the need for manpower capacity building and for the purposes of introducing new departments in the university, the vice chancellor revealed that more than 500 academic and non-academic staff have been sponsored for postgraduate training abroad. He added that 28 new programmes in eight faculties have been approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while 4 new faculties were awaiting the commission approval.

He said, “In the last two years the university has vigorously pursued a policy of sponsoring academic and non-academic staff to attend local and international conferences and workshops.

Currently about 583 members of the academic staff have been sent for further studies within and outside the country.

The university had expended about N668, 371, 592 for the sponsorship. Meanwhile activities marking the 31st convocation ceremony of Bayero University, Kano on Tuesday commenced in Kano. It if for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 combined academic sessions.

The ceremony, which climaxes on Saturday with the award of postgraduate degrees teed off with the award of bachelors’ degrees to 4, 892 successful graduands from the faculties of Arts and Islamic Studies, Education and College of Health Sciences.

Vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, in his remarks on Tuesday, explained that the staggered convocation “was in realisation of the fact that a good convocation ceremony should be for and about the graduands.

Hence, today marks the beginning of the five-day activities aimed at appreciating, celebrating and savouring the joy that being triumphant brings.”

Prof. Rasheed hinted that the university, apart from its modest innovations and expansion of access to research and academic activities, has successfully established e-learning centres and automated its activities in line with global best practices.

He urged the granduands to remain worthy ambassadors of the university and exhibit the good character acquired during their sojourn in the university in all their endeavors.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council of the university, Alhaji Muhamud Yayale Ahmed, reminded the graduating students of the reputation of the university and the need to hold in high esteem, the dignity of their hard-earned certificates.

Ahmed applauded the university’s management for innovation and improved academic system, saying they were keeping pace with their peers in the industry.

Other activities lined up for the convocation ceremony include the conferment of professor emeritus on senior professors for their contribution to the university.

The professors are Munzeli Jubril, Emmanuel Ajayi Olofin, Muhammad Sani Zaharadden, Ibrahim Umar and Dandatti Abdulkadir.

“We have also embarked on the recruitment of experienced teaching staff with a view to meeting international standard of teacher/student ratio. We intend to attain a healthy student/ lecturer ratio with a maximum of 20 students to one lecture in the near future,” the vice chancellor explained.