The
business educational development of Northern Nigeria took a new turn at
the weekend when the renowned businessman, Aliko DANGOTE donated a N1.2
billion ultra-modern business school edifice to the Bayero University,
Kano, (BUK), first of such 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 Group at the opening of
the School at the new site of the University, Dangote stated that no
effort was spared to ensure that the school, building get was up to
international standard and one if the biggest in the 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 best of
its kind in northern Nigeria, adding that the School, as 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 as the Vice Chancellor of the University when he 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 good 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 crying out
research on how Nigerians can do business in the very particular kind of
environment and succeed.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor
of the University, Prof. Muhammed Yahuza Bello said 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 schoolHe 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 showered accolades on Alh Aliko
Dangote for his several interventions in various sectors in the State
and beyond, urging other wealthy individuals to emulate.
Kano
Deputy Governor, Professor Abubakar who represented Gov Ganduje said
Nigerians have a lot to learn from Alhaji Dangote whose wealth has no
influence on his humility and is ever willing to do 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 available in the text books as a successful
business man.
Emir Sanusi said what Dangote has done is
what he has always advocated for other Nigerians to do and that not
units Nigeria gets her education right a lot of things may not fall in
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.
Emir Sanusi urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate him and contribute to the development of their society