Karu: Prof. Haruna Ayuba, Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, has reiterated the university’s commitment to nurturing innovative thinkers, fostering groundbreaking research, and contributing meaningfully to national and global development. Ayuba made this known at the 3rd Postgraduate Workshop organised by the university, themed ‘Innovative Research for Sustainable Development – Celebrating 20 Years of Academic Excellence.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Vice Chancellor stated that the workshop was one of the key activities planned by the School of Postgraduate Studies to commemorate the university’s 20th anniversary. Reflecting on the university’s journey, Ayuba noted it had been marked by resilience, growth, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge aimed at addressing society’s pressing challenges. He highlighted that Bingham University, established in 2005, now boasts 16 faculties, 54 departments, 48 undergraduate programmes, and 59 postgraduate programmes.
The Vice Chancellor emphasised the university’s strategic focus on sustainable development, stressing the need to leave a better society for future generations. He explained that the workshop aimed to provide a platform for participants to explore innovative solutions that could shape a more sustainable future. Ayuba mentioned fostering Cutting-Edge Knowledge as a priority, urging postgraduate students and researchers to stay abreast of the latest trends, methodologies, and innovations.
To encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, Ayuba stated that sustainable development required diverse perspectives and that collaborative research across disciplines was essential for developing holistic solutions. The workshop aimed to build research capacity among postgraduate students by equipping them with the skills and tools necessary for innovative and policy-relevant research. Ayuba also addressed the importance of networking and partnerships, noting that collaboration was crucial in driving meaningful research outcomes.
He further highlighted the workshop’s alignment with national priorities and global development frameworks, particularly the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing unethical practices in postgraduate research, Ayuba called for an end to misconduct and encouraged students to report any unethical behaviour.
Prof. Okoli Bamidele, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, expressed pride in the school’s progress since its inception in 2017. The school has grown into a vibrant community offering 59 postgraduate programmes across 15 faculties. Looking ahead, Bamidele emphasised research priorities such as entrepreneurship in Africa, disruptive technology, and sustainable architecture. He stressed the importance of interdisciplinary research and strengthening industry partnerships.
In his keynote address, Professor Victor Dugga highlighted several pressing challenges confronting postgraduate education and research in Nigeria and across Africa. He pointed to issues such as funding, infrastructure deficits, and the industry-academia gap. Dugga emphasised the need for urgent and coordinated action to create a more robust postgraduate education and research ecosystem on the continent. Quoting a World Bank report, he warned that developing countries risked further marginalisation if their tertiary education systems were not equipped to harness knowledge creation and use.
