The Vice-Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu has approved the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Baji as the new Director, Institute of Continuing Education and e-learning (ICEeL).

Dr. Baji is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education and Arts. Until his new appointment, Dr. Ibrahim Baji was a Coordinator in the Institute. He was also the Head of Department, Counselling Psychology and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts.

Dr. Baji was appointed to fill in the vacant position created as a result of sudden demise of Professor Nuhu Ango Aliyu. In a similar development, Dr. Suleiman Suleiman Chado has been appointed as the new Head, Department of Counselling Psychology. Dr. Chado was one time the Department’s Examination Officer.

All appointments are with immediate effect.

The Vice-Chancellor has, however, congratulated the appointees and wished them a successful tenure in their new positions.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the commencement of Doctor of Pharmacy and LL.B Law programmes with effect from 2024/2025 academic session.

A letter of approval signed by the Commission’s Acting Director of Academic Planning, Abubakar M. Gerei and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu said the Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Chris Maiyaki, considered and approved the establishment of a full mode of the programmes at undergraduate level with effect from 2024/2025 academic session following the visit of Resource Verification panels to the Institution early this year.

The letter added that the programmes which are Doctor of Pharmacy and LL.B Law do not include the part-time mode of delivery, until requested from the commission.

The letter read in part, ” the programme shall bear only the approved titles and nomenclatures and any change will require the approval of the Commission.”

It further enjoined the University to provide adequate human and material resources for the development and growth of the approved programmes.

Commenting on the new development, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu appreciated the Commission for the approval and assured that everything humanly possible would be done to adhere to the NUC guidelines as stipulated.

He thanked His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Niger State and Visitor to the University, Honorable Umaru Mohammed Bago for financial support to the Institution at all times.

Professor Adamu also appreciated the Ministries of Tertiary Education, Finance and that of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs for always opening the window of success for the University.

He enjoined staff and students to remain resolute in the development of the University for the glory of the State.

It would be recalled that National Universities Commission (NUC) Resource Verification panel visited the University on Friday, 8th March, this year for the assignment.

A professor of Economics and Political History in the Department of History and International Studies, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Salahu Mohammed Lawal has identified history as mirror of every developed society, for which the more you see the more you understand.

Professor Salahu Lawal made this known during the University’s Twenty Second Inaugural Lecture series, with the topic “History as Mirror of the Society: the more you look the more you see”, held in the University Auditorium, Lapai

He explained that pervasiveness of crisis, violence and instability in our society emanate from people who lacked knowledge of history or display negligence about history, and who don’t consider what should be of the society in the neatest future.

Professor Salahu Lawal further noted that absence of historical consciousness bred statesmen without a sense of history; statesmen who only think of what they could acquire at the moment irrespective of how it may be achieved without recourse to merit to serve as models for younger generations.

This, he said resulted to deep corruption in society which has gone beyond stealing public funds and subverting justice.

He noted further that those people forget individual and values that sustained the society since inception.

He then admonished that a nation without a sense of history and its core values suffer superficially with a deep of sense of continuity and perception of success.

He concluded his lectures that Nigeria has negligence of history by citizens with little knowledge of their history as individuals and as members of their immediate community, and the nation at large.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, noted that the twenty second Inaugural Lecture topic came at a time of a lot of clarion call are being made on history as a subject of study to be brought back to educational curriculum once again.

He added that children of nowadays needed to know the history of yesterday, today and be able to foresee tomorrow for the unity growth and development of our nation.

Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Conferences and Seminars, Professor Victor Are Kolawole explained that the lecture underscored the importance of history as academic discipline, including it contributions to national development.

In a vote of thanks, the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki appreciated the Governor of Niger State, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Council, Management and Senate of the University and all other people present at the event.

The Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Dantani Wushishi was among dignitaries that graced the occasion.

A team of Researchers at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai lead by Professor Musa Dickson Achimugu have produced a prototype of a mosquito repellent for pregnant women, children called PROTEKTOS during at a ten day workshop on Research for impact (R4i) at Innovate Hub Abuja.

The workshop which was organized by TETFund was aimed at creating a mind-shift for academics on how to translate ideas into research and projects, into prototypes and products for marketing.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Hassan Ibrahim while declaring the one day workshop with the theme, “Innovative Problem-Based Research With Translational Impact: A Paradigm Shift”, organized by the University ‘s Center for Research and Development, applauded the Team of researchers for translating research projects into prototypes for commercialization and also for a step down of the knowledge acquired during the R4i workshop.

Professor Adamu noted that the aim of any research work is to proffer solution to the research problem and translating the work into prototypes for commercialization which will in turn add value to the researchers and the institution as a form of generating Revenue, thereby encouraging the University researchers to ensure that after conducting research, it should not only remain on publication shelves, but also to be translated into prototypes for commercial purposes.

He maintained that institutions are built on three cardinal points of Teaching, Research and Community development and IBB University is known for winning research grants with qualitative and qualified teachers for effective teaching and learning.

Speaking, the Coordinating Director of Research and Development, Professor Nuhu Obage, represent by his Deputy, Dr. Hussaini Majiya applauded the young researchers for doing the University proud.

He also appreciated the University Management for the support it always gives the Directorate, which has been encouraging research.

Professor Obaje who is also the NNPC Basinal Chair called on the State government to continue to give the needed support to and patronage to academic research.

In their separate presentations, the Project Lead, Professor Musa Dickson Achimugu, Dr. Aisha Sani Rabiu, Dr. Yakubu Azeh, Dr. Yusuf Dauda Jikantoro and Dr. Yunusa Audu, affirmed that the primary aim of the R4i is to inspire participants to embrace a new era of innovative research and development in Nigeria, Initiative aims to usher in a new era of societal development by addressing pressing challenges, the remarkable initiative, led by TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, harnesses the combined power of academic ingenuity and industry expertise, further reinforcing the Triple Helix Synergy among Government, Academia, and Industry.

The objective of the one day workshop on Innovative Problem-Based Research With Translational Impact: a Paradigm Shift, is to improve research and development capabilities of Nigerian academics, support their ideas and monitor their effort in translational research, to create a platform for Nigerian academics, researchers, innovators and inventors to become patent owners and venture and to create a mind-shift for academics on how to translate ideas into research and projects, into prototypes and products for marketing.

The researchers recommended that institution should establish research Incubation Center, cultivate the culture of innovation and commercialization among students and lecturers and also create a supportive ecosystem that recognizes and rewards innovation, celebrates risk-taking, and provides mentorship.

They also recommended that institutions should encourage interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle complex societal problems effectively, strengthen technology transfer and streamline the patenting process, provide support services to assist academics, researchers, innovators, and inventors in securing patents for their intellectual property.

In his closing remarks remarks the Deputy Director Center for Research and Development, Dr Hussaini Majiya appreciated the University Management for organizing a scale down workshop for the University researchers and students.

He charged the participants to put in use the knowledge acquired from the workshop.

Highlights of the workshop were paper presentations, projecting the mosquito repellent prototype and questions and answer session.