Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has challenged Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions to stop allowing groundbreaking innovations gather dust in laboratories and instead turn research findings into wealth through commercialisation.
Barau gave the charge when he received the management of North West University, Kano, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Amina Salihi Bayero, at the National Assembly, Abuja.
The Deputy Senate President said Nigerian universities must embrace global best practices by patenting innovations, collaborating with industries and generating revenue from research outcomes.
“Do not leave innovations in laboratories or bookshelves. Patent them and create value from them,” Barau said.
“Top global institutions like Harvard, MIT and Cornell leverage research, collaborate with industries, and generate revenue through innovation. I encourage you to adopt this model.”
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Barau stressed that overdependence on government funding was no longer sustainable, urging higher institutions to diversify their revenue base through innovation-driven initiatives.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND in the Eighth Senate noted that the development of universities requires the collective support of stakeholders and not government alone.
“Maintaining and developing a university is not something that can be assured by just a single entity or person. It needs the assistance, intervention and cooperation of all,” he said.
According to him, even federal universities routinely seek external support to strengthen infrastructure, research and academic excellence.
Barau also underscored the critical role of education in national development, describing human capital as the most important resource for any nation seeking growth and prosperity.
“Human capital is the key driver of development globally. It is no longer about resources like petroleum or solid minerals. The number one factor of production in any nation is human capital,” he stated.
The Deputy Senate President commended the leadership of Professor Bayero and praised the remarkable growth of North West University since its establishment in 2012.
As part of his support for the institution, Barau announced the donation of a coaster bus to facilitate its operations.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Amina Salihi Bayero, said the university’s management visited the National Assembly to explore areas of collaboration with the office of the Deputy President of the Senate.
She lauded Barau’s contributions to the education sector through scholarships, grants and infrastructure interventions across tertiary institutions.
Professor Bayero revealed that the university, which began with only one faculty at inception, has expanded to ten faculties with a student population of about 30,000.
She expressed optimism that stronger collaboration with stakeholders would further accelerate the institution’s growth and academic development.
