Northwest University Sokoto records major academic milestones — VC

Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

The Vice Chancellor of Northwest University, Sokoto, Professor Mukhtar Umar Bunza, has highlighted the remarkable academic growth of the institution, describing it as a fast-rising global university barely three and a half years after its establishment.

Professor Bunza stated this while speaking with journalists in Sokoto on Friday, where he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education for approving the inclusion of the university among beneficiaries of Federal Government intervention programmes.

According to him, the support from the Federal Government has significantly strengthened the university’s infrastructure, academic delivery, and research capacity.

Tracing the institution’s journey, the Vice Chancellor said Northwest University, Sokoto, has made steady progress in academic activities and programme development within a short period.

“This university is just three and a half years old, yet the level of development we have achieved is commendable. About two months ago, no fewer than 13 National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation teams visited the university to assess our academic programmes, human capacity, and other facilities,” he said.

Professor Bunza disclosed that the university was also hosting the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), led by Professor Ambassador Jaafar Wasi, for the professional accreditation and assessment of the Library and Information Science programme.

“Beyond NUC accreditation, every academic programme must also undergo assessment by its relevant professional or regulatory body. The LRCN team is here to assess our level of compliance with the rules and regulations guiding the Library and Information Science degree programme,” he explained.

He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the assessment, noting that the visiting professionals had engaged extensively with academic staff of the department.

“I am pleased with what the team has seen so far. I want to appreciate the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council and also commend His Excellency, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, for his vision and passion for higher education in Sokoto, the Northwest region, and Nigeria at large,” he added.

Providing further details on the institution’s academic structure, Professor Bunza said the university currently has five faculties offering 17 academic programmes.

“Out of these, 13 programmes are mature and eligible for accreditation. The remaining programmes in the College of Health Sciences are about two years old and are expected to receive their accreditation teams by next year,” he said.

He noted that the Library and Information Science programme is among the 13 programmes currently undergoing accreditation, reaffirming the university’s commitment to quality assurance and global best practices.

Professor Bunza assured that the management of Northwest University, Sokoto, remains committed to sustaining high academic standards, regulatory compliance, and continuous institutional development.