The business educational development of Northern Nigeria took a new turn over the weekend when renowned businessman, Aliko Dangote donated an ultra-mo
The business educational development of Northern Nigeria took a new turn over the weekend when renowned businessman, Aliko Dangote donated an ultra-modern business school edifice to the Bayero University, Kano, (BUK), worth N1.2billion, the first of its kind in the northern part of the country. Christened Dangote Business School, the business mogul disclosed that talks are on to affiliate the school with the popular Havard Business School, in the United States of America.
Speaking at the opening of the School at the new site of Bayero University, Dangote stated that no effort was spared to ensure that the building was up to international standard and one of the biggest in sub Sahara Africa. Dangote said the Business School, which was commissioned by the Kano State Governor, Abdulzhi Umar Ganduje, was conceived as part of the contributions of the Nigeria’s business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote towards encouraging world class entrepreneurship education at the highest level in Nigeria. He described the School as one of the best of its kind in northern Nigeria, adding that the School, already accredited by the Nigerian University Commission, will be the first business school to offer Doctor of Business Administration PhD. program in Nigeria.
The Africa richest man added that the business school would ease sharing of business information globally and how future African leaders could advance their businesses as well as building capacity which would translate to boosting the continent’s economy. Dangote traced the journey of the construction of the school to the days of Prof Attahir Jigawa who was the then Vice Chancellor of Bayero University and how he had pleaded with him to help in the establishment of a business school that can accelerate entrepreneurship in the country. He said he agreed to build the edifice because of his conviction that quality education is the bedrock of meaningful development in the country and only a sound mind can facilitate development. The school according to him, will train African Business leaders by carrying out researches on how Nigerians can do business in our peculiar kind of environment and succeed.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammed Yahuza Bello said that with the new business school, the university is now poised to serve the society better through training, research and services. He said the university adopted the name ‘Dangote Business School’, because the name Dangote is internationally synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and successes in business and industry and pledged that the school will live by its name and tradition. Explaining the uniqueness of the school, he stated that the new structure comprises 650 seating capacity auditorium, two theaters, four lecture halls, two libraries, incubation center, two cafeterias, 800kva soundproof generator and borehole among others.
In their separate remarks, Gov. Ganduje, represented by his deputy, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar, his Jigawa State Counterpart, Gov. Muhammed Badaru Abubakar and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, all showered accolades on Alh Aliko Dangote for his several interventions in various sectors of the state and beyond, while urging other wealthy individuals to emulate him. Kano Deputy Governor, Professor Abubakar said Nigerians have a lot to learn from Alhaji Dangote whose wealth has no influence on his humility and is ever willing to do something for his immediate environment and make the society better. He pleaded with the University authority to grant Alhaji Dangote opportunity to lecture once in a while in the school, even if it’s interactive session because he has a lot to offer beyond what is available in text books as a successful business man.
Emir Sanusi said that what Dangote has done is what he has always advocated for other Nigerians to do and that until Nigeria gets her education right, a lot of things may not fall into place as expected. He expressed his appreciation to Alhaji Dangote for rising up to the occasion each time he calls on him to do one thing or the other in the interest of the society. After the commissioning Aliko Dangote was give an award by Bayero University.
(L-R)Donor of the School Aliko Dangote,; Vice-chancellor of BUK, Prof Mohammadu Yahuza Bello; Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru; and Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar at the commissioning ceremony.
(L-R) Donor of the building, Aliko Dangote; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru.
(L-R)Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru; Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar and the donor of the building, Aliko Dangote at the commissioning ceremony.
(L-R) Donor of the School Aliko Dangote,; Vice-chancellor of BUK, Prof Mohammadu Yahuza Bello, holding the award plague; Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru; Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar at the commissioning ceremony.
