NSUK Vice-Chancellor Leads Strategic Dangote Group Engagement, Secures Partnership Commitment for Innovation and Human Capital Development

The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, has led the University on a strategic industry linkage mission to the Dangote Group, reinforcing her administration’s commitment to expanding partnerships that translate the University’s academic, research and innovation strengths into tangible contributions to national development.

The Vice-Chancellor held a high-level meeting with Mr. DVG Edwin, Group Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Group, where discussions focused on deepening academia-industry collaboration, developing human capital and creating platforms through which university research and innovation can address real-world economic and industrial challenges.

The engagement provided Professor Liman an opportunity to highlight the strides recorded by NSUK under her leadership, particularly in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and strategic partnerships with industry and other development-oriented organisations.

Presenting the University’s vision for a stronger industry-academia ecosystem, the Vice-Chancellor sought the Dangote Group’s collaboration in the incubation and commercialisation of innovative business ideas and research outcomes generated within the University. 

She also proposed partnership opportunities in mentorship and traineeship programmes, as well as the development of special projects capable of equipping students and researchers with practical industry experience.

Professor Liman emphasised that NSUK is increasingly positioning itself beyond the traditional boundaries of knowledge transmission by building an ecosystem where research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry engagement converge to produce solutions, enterprises and highly skilled graduates.

The Vice-Chancellor’s engagement with the Dangote Group is consistent with her administration’s deliberate drive to establish strategic partnerships that enhance the University’s capacity to provide relevant education, strengthen research impact, expose students to industry practice and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s human capital development.

Responding, Mr. Edwin commended Nigerian universities for continuing to produce quality graduates despite the numerous challenges confronting the higher education sector. 

He expressed appreciation for the initiative of the NSUK Vice-Chancellor and assured her that the Dangote Group would give positive consideration to the partnership requests.

He noted the importance of stronger collaboration between universities and industry, particularly in developing graduates with the skills, experience and innovative capacity required to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation.

The engagement therefore represents another significant step in NSUK’s growing industry linkage agenda, with the University seeking to move beyond conventional academic partnerships towards sustainable collaborations capable of generating opportunities for students, researchers, entrepreneurs and the wider society.

Accompanying the Vice-Chancellor on the linkage mission were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation, and Linkages; the Director, NSUK Consult; the Director, Global Health and Infectious Disease Institute; (GHIDI); and the Director, Ibrahim Usman Jibrin Institute of the Built Environment.

The Dangote Group engagement further underscores Professor Liman’s vision of a globally competitive NSUK—an institution where academic excellence is complemented by innovation, enterprise, strategic partnerships and impactful engagement with industry and society.