NSUK Strengthens UNDP Partnership with Focus on Green Mining and Innovation

Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), hosted a high-level delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday, 23rd October 2025, led by Ms. Shoko Noda, UNDP Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau.

The visit, coordinated under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman (Fellow; UNESCO, ACLS, FIIFP, CBER), focused on advancing collaboration and reviewing ongoing initiatives at the NSUK-UNIPOD Centre.

Professor Liman expressed gratitude to UNDP for selecting NSUK as the host of the UNIPOD Centre, describing it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. She emphasized that the centre will serve as a national hub for research, innovation, enterprise development, climate resilience, mineral exploration, green mining, and environmental stewardship. “The UNIPOD Centre will not only benefit Nasarawa State, but will strengthen Nigeria’s position in sustainable development, responsible mining, and knowledge-driven economic growth,” she stated.

Ms. Shoko Noda commended NSUK for its dedication to research excellence, noting that UNIPOD will foster youth empowerment, technological advancement, and capacity building in green mining. She highlighted Nigeria’s proactive efforts in addressing conflicts linked to resource extraction, stressing that responsible mining can generate jobs, protect the environment, and uplift communities.

UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, praised the Vice-Chancellor’s visionary leadership and reaffirmed that UNIPOD will connect NSUK with global research networks, facilitate innovation financing, resource-based revenue generation, and support Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda. She also encouraged stronger collaboration between the mining and health sectors to improve public awareness of mineral resource development.

Dr. Aisha Abubakar Kana, Director of UNIPOD, described the centre as a multi-disciplinary innovation hub open to all faculties and scholars. She noted that it will support talent development, policy enhancement, curriculum integration, mineral testing, community engagement, and the establishment of a resilient green value chain.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Professor Maikano Mohammed Ari, speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, reaffirmed NSUK’s commitment to the partnership, describing the UNIPOD Centre as “a beacon of sustainable development that aligns with national priorities and global goals.”

The visit concluded with a guided tour of the UNIPOD facility, an interactive session with students, and a group photograph to commemorate the engagement.