BUK Emerges Victorious in Intense Higher Education Competition

Image source: buk.edu.ng

In a highly competitive contest that saw top Nigerian universities vying for recognition, Bayero University emerged as the winner of the prestigious Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) prize.

The institution surpassed renowned universities such as the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Portharcourt, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to claim the coveted title.

The ten-member team from Bayero University, led by Professor Rufai Ibrahim, the Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnership (DRIP), displayed exceptional expertise and determination throughout the contest. 

Their impressive performance secured them the grand prize of an interactive SMART board, after a rigorous six-day training organized by the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) in Lagos.

The competition, designed by the NHEF, required each team to deliver a multimedia summary presentation within a strict ten-minute timeframe.

Participants utilized the SMART board they were trained on to condense the comprehensive five-day training into five concise slides.

The event, held at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, featured teams from the partnering universities of the NHEF.

From July 5th to July 8th, 2023, ten faculty members from six partner universities engaged in the training program.

The primary objective of the initiative was to enhance staff capacity in critical areas such as Grant Writing, Advancement Programs, Critical Thinking in the Classroom, Modern-Day Teaching Practices, and Technology Adoption/Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom.

Moreover, the training aimed to foster collaboration, networking, and idea-sharing among faculty members from different universities, thereby encouraging similar practices across the broader academic community.

Established in 2004 by the MacArthur Foundation, the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) now receives funding from Kuramo Capital Management and a consortium of 21 partners.

In addition to the faculty training, NHEF also provides parallel training for ten students from each of the six participating universities who are entering their final year.

This program offers sponsorship opportunities, mentoring, coaching, and job placement upon graduation, fostering the holistic development of future professionals.

Members of Bayero University's winning team included distinguished figures such as Professor Haruna Musa, Director of Academic Planning; Associate Professor Abubakar Isah Umar, Dean of the Faculty of Law; Dr. Muhammad Adamu Kwankwaso, Head of the Department of Education; Associate Professor Salisu Abubakar Maiwada, Deputy Director of the African Centre of Excellence in Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP); Dr. Mustafa M Bello from the African Centre of Excellence for Dryland Agriculture (CDA); Ahmad Tijjani Garba from the Department of Information Technology; Dr. Nura Lawal from the Department of Nigerian Languages; Umar Sani Hanga, Acting Director of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT); and Mustafa Ibrahim, Deputy Registrar of the Advancement Directorate.

With Bayero University's resounding victory in the NHEF competition, the institution has solidified its reputation as a center of academic excellence.

The triumph not only serves as a testament to the exceptional skills and dedication of the winning team but also reflects positively on the institution's commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and educational advancement.