In a high stakes address at the Gadau campus, Vice Chancellor Professor Fatimah Tahir issued an urgent call to 12,256 graduates to pivot toward entrepreneurship and self reliance.
Speaking yesterday at the university’s combined 8th, 9th, and 10th convocation, she warned that the era of relying solely on white collar employment has passed.
The mass graduation spans undergraduate and postgraduate programs across nine faculties, marking a massive turning point for the institution.
Professor Tahir implored the new alumni to enter society not as job seekers, but as innovators and leaders capable of creating their own opportunities.
She emphasised that the modern economy demands graduates who can transform challenges into ventures, urging them to lead the charge in national development.
Reflecting on SAZU’s 15 year trajectory, she detailed a period of aggressive academic expansion and rigorous quality control.
She confirmed that 38 out of 40 academic programs now hold full accreditation, with 17 programs recently cleared by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The university's research profile has also surged, with 148 Institutional Based Research grants accessed from TETFund since 2023 alone.
Global reach remains a priority, with SAZU forging strategic partnerships with institutions in Russia and Malaysia, and health initiatives in the USA.
Domestically, the university has solidified ties with the FIRS, PenCom, and the African Population and Health Research Centre.
The campus itself is undergoing a physical transformation, with the Vice Chancellor praising the Bauchi State Government for new internal road networks.
Ongoing projects include new hostels, staff housing, perimeter fencing, and the highly anticipated establishment of a medical college.
Technological growth is being fueled by a modern ICT complex, a collaborative project between the NNPCL and Offshore Labs.
To boost campus operations, the university recently installed a 500KVA generator and expanded water access through new boreholes.
Professor Tahir credited increased state funding for these breakthroughs, noting a direct impact on both infrastructure and staff welfare.
Formerly known as Bauchi State University (BASUG), the institution now looks to its graduates to act as its ultimate ambassadors.
Pro Chancellor Professor Gambo Laraba Abdullahi described the event as a historic milestone for the state and the university's legacy.
She concluded by challenging the graduates to uphold values of moral integrity and social responsibility as they navigate a complex global landscape.
