By Khalid Idris Doya Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi Branch, Jibrin S. Jibrin, Esq., has said tha...
By Khalid Idris Doya
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi Branch, Jibrin S. Jibrin, Esq., has said that converting the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) from a specialised university of technology into a conventional institution will correct long-standing educational inequities and align Bauchi State with the country’s higher-education structure.
Barrister Jibrin made the remarks on Monday while addressing journalists on the ongoing debate over a bill sponsored by Senator Shehu Buba Umar (Bauchi South) in the 10th Senate. The bill seeks to amend the ATBU establishment law to transform the institution into a full conventional university with broader academic offerings.
"In this engagement, I intend to offer factual basis, reasons, and superior arguments supporting the ongoing legislative exercise. Given some of the recent implausible positions expressed by a cross section of stakeholders, including respected figures like former Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Professor Suleiman E. Bogoro our duty is to place the issues in their correct context for the benefit of Bauchi State, the education sector, and society at large," he said.
He noted that despite being the most populous state in the Northeast, Bauchi remains the only state in the zone without a conventional federal university. States such as Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Yobe all have federal institutions offering wide-ranging academic programmes.
According to him, this disparity has denied many qualified students access to courses such as Law, Education, Medicine, and the Arts programmes not offered under ATBU’s current specialised mandate.
"Transforming ATBU into a conventional university will address this inequity, ensure fair distribution of educational opportunities, and bring Bauchi State in line with the national educational framework," he stated.
Jibrin, who holds the traditional title of Danmalikin Miri, highlighted Nigeria’s rapidly expanding population, over 220 million people with more than 60% below age 25. He said the number of admission seekers continues to rise while fewer than 30% gain university admission due to limited institutional capacity and narrow programme options.
Expanding ATBU’s mandate to include disciplines such as Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Education, Arts, and Humanities, he argued, will strengthen the university’s role as a national hub for training future professionals.
The former NUBASS National President added that converting ATBU into a conventional university would also spur job creation, strengthen Bauchi’s local economy, attract investments, and reduce the need for students to travel to other states for unavailable courses.
“The multiplier effect of a conventional university is enormous. Evidence from institutions like the University of Maiduguri and the Federal University Lafia shows that diversification stimulates small businesses, healthcare services, and real estate development in their host communities," he noted.
Jibrin further explained that the transformation would honour the legacy of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, who was a teacher and reformer committed to national unity through education.
He noted that universities worldwide are adopting multidisciplinary models, and Nigeria has followed suit with institutions such as Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi; Modibbo Adama University, Yola; and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, all of which have expanded into comprehensive universities.
“This is a step toward bridging the educational gap between the Northern and Southern regions,” he said. “For instance, the recent decision of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) to allocate 50 slots each for Law programmes to three universities, some in Anambra State, means those states now enjoy several times the allocation given to Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU). Converting ATBU into a conventional university would help balance such disparities.”
He added that both conventional and specialised universities have proved capable of excelling in STEM fields, citing Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and Bayero University Kano (BUK) as examples.
"Examples of conventional universities that enjoy this rating include Ahmadu Bello University (ATBU) and Bayero University Kano (BUK). This factual position therefore displaces with due respect Professor Sulaiman Bogoro's position on the matter. Now my point is as one of the many proud sons and stakeholders in Bauchi State, it is my considered candid position that the facts on the ground suggest that with everything in place, both conventional and specialized universities compete and do better in STEM as in other fields of human endeavor."
Jibrin, Lead Partner at Jis-Ijim & Co. (Jama’a Chambers), urged Bauchi’s political leaders, traditional rulers, academics, and other stakeholders to rally behind Senator Shehu Buba Umar and support the National Assembly’s efforts.
He appealed for swift passage of the ATBU amendment bill and subsequent presidential assent, stating that doing so would “substantially transform the fortunes of Bauchi State for the better.”
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