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Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University has matriculated a total of 4,937 students for the 2025/2026 academic session, with Niger State Government reaffirming its commitment to education, innovation, and youth development as key drivers of the New Niger Agenda.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Visitor to the University, Farmer Umaru Muhammad Bago, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Surajo Sa’id, conveyed the Governor’s warm greetings and congratulations to the University community, particularly the newly admitted students.
He described the matriculation as a significant milestone, marking not only admission into the University but induction into a community committed to excellence, innovation, and knowledge.
He urged the students to view their matriculation oath as a solemn commitment to discipline, integrity, and academic excellence, noting that education remains central to sustainable development under the present administration. According to him, the State’s vision is anchored on productivity, self-reliance, and economic transformation, especially through agriculture and the green economy.
The Visitor stressed that achieving this transformation requires intellectual capacity and innovation, adding that institutions like the University are strategically positioned to produce the skilled professionals needed to drive the State’s agricultural and economic revolution.
He emphasized that students must see themselves not only as future professionals but as critical contributors to the development of Niger State and the nation.
He further advised them to remain focused and disciplined, warning against involvement in examination malpractice, cultism, and drug abuse. He encouraged them to pursue knowledge beyond academic requirements, stressing that their certificates should reflect both academic achievement and sound character.
The address also highlighted the University’s growth over the past two decades as a centre of academic excellence, contributing significantly to expanding access to higher education and producing graduates who impact society positively. Its commitment to multidisciplinary research, he noted, continues to provide solutions to societal challenges and support the State’s development agenda.
Reiterating government support, he disclosed that the Niger State Government remains committed to strengthening tertiary education through sustained investment in infrastructure, provision of modern facilities, and support for research and innovation in areas such as food security, technology, and renewable energy. He added that scholarship programmes for deserving students would continue to be sustained.
The Visitor commended the University’s Vice Chancellor and Management for maintaining academic standards and providing visionary leadership in infrastructure development and research collaboration, assuring that the government would continue to support the Institution’s growth.
The Farmer Governor also acknowledged the sacrifices of parents and guardians in supporting their wards’ education, urging them to continue providing guidance throughout their academic journey.
He concluded by congratulating the matriculating students and formally welcoming them to the institution, expressing optimism that they would emerge as responsible leaders contributing meaningfully to the realisation of the New Niger vision.
Declaring the ceremony open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, described the occasion as the beginning of a critical academic journey for the newly admitted students. He congratulated them on their success in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, noting that their admission into the University was highly competitive and a reflection of merit.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to justify the confidence reposed in them by their parents and guardians through hard work, discipline, and commitment to their studies. He warned against negative peer influence, advising them to be cautious of associations that could derail their academic and moral development.
Professor Sulaiman highlighted the University’s ongoing expansion, including the introduction of new academic programmes aimed at widening access to quality education. He specifically noted the establishment of the College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Faculty of Law as major milestones that have created opportunities for students aspiring to study medicine, pharmacy, and law within the institution.
He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, stating that the institution continues to benefit from the support of the Niger State Government in infrastructure development and institutional strengthening.
According to him, the administration is focused on building a world-class university driven by innovation, research, and global best practices.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that the University maintains zero tolerance for misconduct, including examination malpractice, cultism, cybercrime, drug abuse, and other forms of indiscipline. He added that the institution promotes an inclusive environment that does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, or social status, in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He further assured that mechanisms have been put in place to sustain high standards in teaching, research, and discipline, while also ensuring that students benefit from a conducive learning environment. He encouraged students to make proper use of available facilities and actively contribute to the University’s sustainability efforts.
Professor Sulaiman also disclosed that efforts are ongoing towards the completion of key projects, including the university’s teaching hospital complex, while student and staff welfare remains a top priority for both the university administration and the state government.
He concluded by congratulating the matriculating students and urging them to remain focused, law-abiding, and committed to their academic pursuits, expressing confidence that they would emerge as responsible leaders equipped to thrive in a global environment.