SAZU intensifies research, innovation drive through staff training
By Ahmed Ahmed
Sa’adu Zungur University says it is intensifying efforts to strengthen research development, innovation and industry collaboration through continuous staff capacity building.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fatimah Tahir, stated this at the opening of a three-day Stepdown Training Workshop on Research Administration, Industry Collaboration and Commercialisation at the institution’s main campus in Gadau.
Tahir, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Bala Ma’aji Abdulhamid, said continuous training and retraining remained vital to building a productive and innovative academic environment.
She said the workshop aligned with the Federal Government’s policy direction aimed at ensuring that research findings were transformed into practical solutions for industries and society.
According to her, the university is committed to equipping academic staff with modern research skills necessary for institutional growth and national development.
The vice chancellor said the institution would continue to encourage partnerships with relevant organisations and stakeholders to enhance innovation and community impact.
Tahir recalled that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund sponsored some staff members of the university for specialised research and development programmes in 2025.
She said the workshop was organised to enable beneficiaries of the training transfer the acquired knowledge to other academic staff.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation (CERI), Dr Usman Waziri, said the vice chancellor approved the workshop to expand the benefits of the earlier TETFund-sponsored training.
Waziri said about 64 academic staff from various faculties and departments participated in the programme.
He added that participants from other tertiary institutions in Bauchi State also attended the workshop.
The institutions, he said, included Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Aminu Sale College of Education and Federal University of Health Sciences.
According to Waziri, the university fully sponsored the workshop as part of measures to improve research capacity and strengthen institutional partnerships.
He said the training featured presentations on research administration, commercialisation, academia-industry collaboration, innovation management and sustainable research partnerships.
Waziri added that participants also engaged in interactive sessions and group presentations to assess their understanding of the concepts discussed.
Some stakeholders at the event stressed the need for stronger collaboration among academia, industries and communities to address societal challenges and promote economic growth.
