Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Founder and Pro-Chancellor of North West University, Sokoto, has charged the institution to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), cutting-edge Information Technology (IT), and entrepreneurship into its academic curriculum to keep pace with global educational standards and ensure graduates are self-reliant.
Delivering his keynote address during the third matriculation ceremony of the university held at the Senate Building Open Theatre, Wamakko emphasized that university education must respond to the fast-changing realities of the modern world by preparing students not only to seek jobs but also to become job creators.
“In today’s world, white-collar jobs are no longer sufficient or sustainable. Therefore, I have directed the Acting Vice Chancellor and his team to ensure that North West University incorporates entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, and investment studies into every program,” he declared.
The former governor of Sokoto State and current senator also underscored the urgent need for the university to adopt world-class IT and AI tools for both teaching and research. According to him, this will position North West University as a hub of innovation and scholarship rooted in the intellectual legacy of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Wamakko highlighted the university’s cosmopolitan vision, noting that institutions of higher learning should attract talents and ideas from diverse backgrounds. “University education system has been part of our history since the 19th century in Sokoto,” he said, referencing the scholarly traditions of the region.
He further applauded the achievements of Sokoto-born Jelani Aliyu, an international automotive designer and former Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, describing him as a symbol of the excellence North West University aims to inspire.
Wamakko also acknowledged the continuous support of the Sokoto State Government under Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, especially its scholarship scheme aimed at expanding access to quality education for all youth irrespective of their background.
Hundreds of students have benefitted from Wamakko’s personal scholarship initiative, which includes partnerships with universities in Nigeria and abroad, such as the University of Lahore in Pakistan, the International Islamic University in Uganda, and Crown Hill University in Nigeria, among others.
Congratulating the newly matriculated students, Wamakko urged them to uphold the university’s motto—Knowledge, Excellence, and Success—with hard work and determination. “This is a golden opportunity provided at your doorstep. Do not waste it,” he advised.
He concluded by commending the University’s Governing Council, management, and academic team for turning North West University into a vibrant centre for learning within just three years of its establishment.
