Sokoto State University seeks recruitment approval for faculty expansion

The Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, Professor Muhammad Bello Yarima, has requested the state government’s authorization to recruit additional academic staff to accommodate the university’s planned growth into new disciplines.

Speaking at the university’s combined fourth through eighth convocation ceremonies on Saturday, Professor Yarima noted that the institution is preparing to launch 22 new academic programs, pending final approval from the National Universities Commission. These additions are expected to increase the total number of faculties at the school from five to nine.

The proposed expansion focuses on strategic fields intended to meet national manpower demands, including cybersecurity, software engineering, nursing, and medical sciences. Beyond these programs, the university is also working toward establishing a specialized Centre of Excellence for Solid Mineral Research. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the institution is currently in discussions with partners in India and China to secure the necessary equipment and training for this project, positioning it to address the challenges of illegal mining.

During the event, a total of 42 students were recognized for graduating with first-class honors. Professor Yarima expressed appreciation for the state government’s policy of providing automatic employment to first-class graduates, noting that the university had recently interviewed four such alumni to join its staff.

In his address, Governor Ahmed Aliyu reiterated his administration’s focus on prioritizing education as a driver of sustainable development. He highlighted recent government efforts to support the institution, including the clearance of salary arrears for visiting and sabbatical lecturers, the implementation of salary increases for academic staff, and infrastructure improvements such as the construction of a new sports complex and the renovation of staff housing.

The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to assisting the university in its goal to become a leading center of learning, both nationally and internationally.