From Bayero University to YUMSUK: Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa’s Leadership Journey in Higher Education

Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa is one of Kano State’s most accomplished academics and university administrators, with a distinguished career spanning over three decades in higher education.

A native of Kano Municipal, Professor Kurawa obtained his http://B.Sc. and http://M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from Bayero University, Kano, BUK, before earning a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. He joined the academic staff of BUK in 1993 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 2015.

His administrative journey has been equally remarkable. In 2016, he was appointed Rector of Kano State Polytechnic, where he provided strategic leadership to the institution. Four years later, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, YUMSUK, formerly Northwest University, Kano. 

During his five-year tenure from October 2020 to October 2025, he oversaw significant institutional growth, expanding the university from five to nine academic faculties and strengthening its academic profile.

In recognition of his wealth of experience and leadership, the Kano State Government appointed him as Chairman of the Gaya Polytechnic Implementation Committee, entrusting him with the responsibility of laying the foundation and designing the academic structure of the new institution.

Beyond his institutional roles, Professor Kurawa has also contributed to educational development at the national level through his service on the governing boards of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, and the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.

Through scholarship, visionary leadership, and an unwavering commitment to educational advancement, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education in Kano State and Nigeria.