Mindset Shift and Collective Responsibility Key to Sustainable Universities, Says BUK DVC Academics

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics of Bayero University, Kano, BUK, Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni, has said that mindset change, institutional resilience and collective responsibility are critical to the sustainability of Nigerian universities.

Delivering the revived BUK Public Lecture titled "Development Dynamics and the Sustainability of Nigerian Universities," Tsauni urged institutions to move beyond dependence on government funding. He called for innovation, diversified funding sources, strategic partnerships and stronger institutional thinking.

He proposed a six-pillar framework to drive sustainability anchored on financial resilience, academic excellence, staff development, good governance, digital transformation and strategic partnerships.

The lecture marked the return of the University's Public Lecture Series after years of inactivity under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, fsi.

In his remarks, Professor Musa said the revival of the series would provide a platform for generating ideas and charting sustainable pathways for the University's development. He highlighted achievements recorded during his first year in office, including sustaining BUK's position as Nigeria's leading university in international outlook for the third consecutive year, the best university in Northern Nigeria and among the top three nationally.

He also announced that the next public lecture, titled "Understanding Cancer, Pursuing a Cure," will be delivered by Professor Abdullahi Sarki Abba on 2 October 2026.

Chairman of the occasion and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, described the lecture as timely. He noted that universities must now focus on achieving sustainable development amid increasing global competition.

Former BUK Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello, attributed the University's sustained success in attracting external grants to its culture of accountability and transparency.

Immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa, urged universities to think outside the box to ensure sustainability. 

Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, a Non-Executive Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said BUK's credibility and reputation remain its greatest strengths for attracting partnerships and funding worldwide.