Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has announced a N15 billion investment in the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTech), Wudil, Kano State, as part of a five-year initiative to upgrade the institution’s infrastructure and academic profile.
Dangote made the pledge on Saturday during the university’s fifth combined convocation ceremony, which also marked his formal investiture as Chancellor. The event featured the conferment of undergraduate, postgraduate, and honorary degrees.
Reaffirming his vision to position ADUSTech among Nigeria’s top three universities, Dangote outlined key development projects, including the construction of male and female hostels, a state-of-the-art multipurpose computer laboratory with uninterrupted internet access, and a mini solar power plant to guarantee reliable electricity.
To ensure transparency and sustained progress, Dangote said he would present biannual updates to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State. He also commended the governor’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in education, describing it as a bold and necessary move.
Governor Yusuf, in his remarks, praised Dangote’s continued investment in education and announced the construction of new roads and drainage systems within the university campus. He also revealed that the top nine graduating students would receive automatic scholarships for further studies abroad.
Vice Chancellor Professor Musa Tukur Yakasai expressed gratitude to Dangote for his enduring support, which he said had been instrumental to the university’s development since its establishment. He highlighted the institution’s achievements, including full accreditation for 41 undergraduate programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
According to Yakasai, ADUSTech currently offers 45 full-time and 10 part-time undergraduate programmes, along with 57 postgraduate programmes across six faculties and 37 departments. The university has a student population of 21,877, supported by 672 academic staff (including 63 professors and over 245 PhD holders) and 1,790 non-teaching staff.
The convocation ceremony marked a significant milestone in the university’s evolution and reinforced its mission to become a hub for science, technology, and innovation in Nigeria.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze.
