FUDMA, UMYUK Discuss Academic Ties, Groundbreaking Research Collaboration

FUDMA, UMYUK Discuss Academic Ties, Groundbreaking Research Collaboration

By Attah Abubakar Mohammed

In a landmark move aimed at fostering inter-university cooperation and advancing academic excellence, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Prof. Mohammed Khalid Othman, has led a delegation to Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (UMYUK).

The primary objective of the visit, according to Prof. Othman, is “to sustain the existing relationship, consolidate the gains already made and expand the frontiers of collaboration between the two institutions.

He said that the target was for the two institutions to provide a dynamic, problem-solving platform that leverages pooled academic strengths for tangible national impact.

Prof. Othman added that the collaboration was “critical, important and valuable”, particularly given the geographical proximity of the two universities, both situated within Katsina State, noting that the two institutions “share similar core mandates of teaching, research and community service, which provide a solid foundation for meaningful collaboration”.

The Vice Chancellor painted an ambitious vision of the proposed partnership, highlighting its immense prospects in transforming the two universities from mere research institutions into vibrant centers of groundbreakingresearch and gateways for national security, political, social, economic and academic development.

He argued that such collaboration would not only elevate the status of both institutions, but also position them as key drivers of regional and national progress.

“Universities, as learning and research centers, serve as reference points for society to look up to, especially in the event of system failure. We have the tenacity and responsibility to empower young Nigerians with the requisite skills for nation building”, he

To ensure the success of the proposed collaboration, Prof. Othman advocated for a joint committee from both universities “to spearhead critical functions such as sharing expertise and best practices, exchanging human resources and academic tools and diagnosing a wide array of challenges impacting Katsina State, Nigeria and the World”, while at the same time “devising actionable solutions to societal problems”.

This committee, he emphasized, would serve as “the engine for multi-institutional and inter-disciplinary research, specifically targeting pressing issues like insecurity and food security”, thereby transforming the partnership from a mere administrative agreement into “a dynamic, problem-solving platform that leverages pooled academic strengths for tangible national impact”.

Addressing the demographic realities of Nigeria, the Vice Chancellor noted that youths constitute over 70 percent of the country’s population, stressing the imperative of transforming this demographic from potential liabilities into productive assets for nation building.

Prof. Othman further proposed that the two universities should engage in comprehensivestrategic sessions to identify their respective strengths, challenges and pathways for progress.

“This collaborative approach”, he noted, “will enable both institutions to become beacons of societal development, revenue generation and i n s t i t u t i o n a l g r o w t h”.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would facilitate access to local and foreign research grants, thereby enhancing the r e s e a r c h c a p a c i t y o f b o t h u n i v e r s i t i e s.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (UMYUK), Prof. Shehu Salihu Muhammad, gave an emphatic endorsement of all the submissions made by Prof. Othman, stating: “I am completely in agreement to all your submissions. UMYUK is ready for any kind of collaboration and mutual cooperation with FUDMA”.

In a significant development, the UMYUK Vice Chancellor announced the institution’s readiness “to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to officially commence the academic partnership”, formalising what has been an informal but enduring relationship between the two institutions.

Prof. Muhammad highlighted the deep-rooted historical connections between the two institutions, noting that the symbiotic relationship has existed since the inception of the historical ties, as highlighted by the Vice Chancellor.

“These are not merely coincidental but rather a testament to the deeply rooted institutional kinship between FUDMA and UMYUK, demonstrating a long-standing interchange of senior administrative and academic talent”, he noted, stressing that “the current Registrar of UMYUK, Muhammadu Yusuf Abubakar, previously served as FUDMA’s pioneer Registrar, while FUDMA’s present Bursar, Abubakar Muhammad Gafai, formerly held the same position at UMYUK, and the Provost of FUDMA’s College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Jamilu Shehu, was once a Head of Department at UMYUK.

“This palpable web of cross-institutional personnel movements, spanning pivotal roles from registry and finance to academic leadership, provides a solid, preexisting foundation of mutual understanding and shared experience, upon which the proposed enhanced collaboration can be confidently built on”, he added.

The FUDMA delegation comprised key officials from the university’s top management such as the Deputy Vice Chancellors for Academics and Administration, Professors Abubakar Sadiq Sulaiman and Elizabeth Ihugh Yecho, respectively; the Registrar, Dr. Musa Ajiya; Bursar, Abubakar Muhammad Gafai; University Librarian, Dr. Ukashatu Hamza Musa and the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Jamilu Shehu.