Graduates of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) in Bauchi State have been told to see themselves not just as job seekers, but as job creators.
At the combined 8th, 9th, and 10th convocation ceremony held yesterday at the Gadau campus, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fatimah Tahir, urged 12,256 graduating students to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance in an increasingly competitive global job market.
“As you step into the larger society, do not limit yourselves to seeking employment alone; become innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders,” Prof. Tahir advised, stressing the need for graduates to carve their own paths rather than rely solely on traditional white-collar jobs.
The ceremony also highlighted SAZU’s steady rise over the past 15 years. The Vice-Chancellor revealed that 38 of the university’s 40 academic programmes are fully accredited, while 17 programmes recently received fresh recognition from the National Universities Commission (NUC). On research, the university has secured 148 TETFund Institutional-Based Research grants and two National Research Fund awards since 2023.
International collaborations were another focus, with partnerships spanning Don State Technical University (Russia), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Sunway University (Malaysia), and global initiatives like CEPI and Project ECHO at the University of New Mexico, USA. National partnerships include the National Pension Commission, FIRS, FUHSATI, and the African Population and Health Research Center.
Infrastructure developments also featured prominently. Prof. Tahir acknowledged the Bauchi State Government’s support for internal roads at the Gadau campus and outlined ongoing projects including hostel construction, campus fencing, staff housing, and plans for a medical college.
She highlighted the new ICT complex built by NNPC Limited and Offshore Labs, as well as power and water upgrades at the Yuli campus.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Gambo Laraba Abdullahi, described the convocation as a major milestone, commending sustained state investment in education and urging graduates to contribute meaningfully to national development while upholding the university’s values.
From its beginnings as Bauchi State University in 2011 to a fast-growing, research-focused institution today, SAZU is clearly positioning its graduates to step confidently into a world that demands creativity, resilience, and leadership.
—TheGuardian
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