Former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi Branch, Jibrin S. Jibrin, has said that converting Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) from a specialised university of technology to a conventional institution will correct long-standing educational inequities and place Bauchi State in line with the national higher-education structure.
Jibrin stated this yesterday while addressing journalists on the ongoing debate surrounding the bill sponsored by Senator Shehu Buba Umar (Bauchi South) in the 10th Senate seeking to amend the ATBU establishment law to allow its transformation to a fully conventional university with broader academic offerings.
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, unlike Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe, all of which host federal institutions with wide academic coverage.
According to him, this disparity has denied many qualified students access to programmes such as Law, Education, Medicine, Social Sciences and the Arts courses not offered under ATBU’s current specialised mandate.
“Transforming ATBU into a conventional university will address this inequity, guarantee fair distribution of educational opportunities and align Bauchi State with the national educational framework,” Jibrin said.
Jibrin, who holds the traditional title of Danmalikin Miri, highlighted Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, now above 220 million, with over 60% under age 25, stating that the number of admission seekers rises yearly while fewer than 30% secure university placement due to limited institutional capacity and narrow programme options.
He argued that expanding ATBU’s mandate to include disciplines such as Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Education, Arts and Humanities will make it a major national training hub for future professionals.
The former NUBASS national president added that converting ATBU into a conventional university would create employment opportunities, stimulate Bauchi’s local economy, attract investments, and reduce the need for students to migrate to other states for courses unavailable in the institution.
“The multiplier effect of a conventional university is enormous. Evidence from the University of Maiduguri and Federal University Lafia shows that diversification boosts small businesses, healthcare services and real estate development in their host communities,” he said.
Jibrin emphasised that the transformation would also honour the legacy of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, noting that the late Prime Minister was a teacher and reformer whose philosophy centred on national unity through education.
He pointed out that globally, universities are shifting toward multidisciplinary models, and Nigeria has already followed the trend 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.
“It is a step toward bridging the educational gap between the Northern and Southern regions of the country which is necessary for even development. For instance, with the recent decision by the council of legal education (CLE) allocating 50 slots each for law programmes in 3 universities including some of which are in Anambra State thereby making it have several times the number of slots given to the faculty of law in Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU).
“As such, by making ATBU a conventional University a veritable opportunity would have been offered for bridging this gap in all the desired courses,” he stressed.
Jibrin, Lead Partner of Jis-Ijim & Co. (Jama’a Chambers), called on Bauchi’s political leaders, traditional rulers, academics and other stakeholders to rally behind Senator Shehu Buba Umar and support the National Assembly’s effort to actualize the amendment.
He said that passing the ATBU amendment bill into law, and securing presidential assent, would “Substantially transform the fortunes of Bauchi State for the better.”
