News

Nigeria’s Development Hinges on Engineering Innovation, Says Experts

Published

1 month ago

February 11, 2026

Engr. Dr. Umar Buba Bindir, Founder of the Bindir Knowledge Centre, Yola, has identified innovation-driven engineering, integrated policymaking, and meaningful research as the only viable pathway to Nigeria’s sustainable development, warning that there is “no shortcut or magic” to nation-building.

Bindir stated this on Tuesday during the second day of the 5th Engineering Conference organised by the Faculty of Engineering, Bayero University Kano (BUK), held at the Dangote Business School.

The conference, themed “Engineering Innovations and Economic Policies: Driving Sustainable Industrial Growth in Nigeria,” focused on repositioning Nigeria from oil dependency to a diversified, innovation-led economy anchored on engineering, technology, and effective policy implementation.

Speaking on innovation and national development, Dr. Bindir said Nigeria’s future depends on deliberately equipping young people with relevant skills, modern technology, and competence to establish manufacturing industries, build enterprises, and create employment capable of generating and recycling wealth within the economy.

According to him, sustainable development can only be achieved through the acquisition of appropriate technologies, continuous adaptation of technological systems, and the deliberate cultivation of a national culture of effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency.

“There is no other way to develop a nation than to leverage knowledge, technology, and innovation. That is how you skill your youth, grow your economy, and enable young people to take advantage of their own economic space,” he said.

Bindir noted that his commitment to innovation dates back to his graduation in the 1980s, stressing that Nigeria’s development efforts often fail due to weak consistency and poor sustainability in policy execution.

He described Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education as “factories of knowledge” responsible for producing intellectually prepared citizens capable of solving real-life problems in critical sectors such as water, housing, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s rich human capital, Bindir expressed concern that the country has failed to adopt the right policies to harness this potential effectively.

“Nigeria is very rich in intellectual energy, but unfortunately, we are not forging the right policies, nor are we serious enough to sustain innovation efforts until they become a national culture,” he said.

He further criticised Nigeria’s policymaking framework, describing it as highly disintegrated, with sectors operating in isolation rather than as a coordinated ecosystem.

“There is no policy that can succeed on its own.

Health policy requires infrastructure, education, science, and industrial policies. But we work in silos, driven by a procurement culture focused on contract sharing rather than development,” Bindir said, adding that corruption not lack of intellectual capacity remains Nigeria’s greatest obstacle to progress.

On academic research, Bindir urged lecturers and professors to prioritise environment-specific and problem-solving research, stressing that scholarship must directly address local realities.

“If you are in Kano, research should focus on crops that survive minimal rainfall, heat-resistant housing materials, medicinal plants, and durable road construction suitable for hot climates.

Research must be meaningful, and that meaningfulness is what students will transmit into the economy,” he said.

He also called on government to provide clear political direction, strong moral leadership, and technological orientation, noting that while government does not conduct research or commercialization, its role is to empower the intelligentsia to translate knowledge into practical solutions for society.

Bindir lamented the weak linkage between government, academia, research institutes, and industry, warning that the disconnect has contributed to rising poverty, insecurity, and youth disillusionment.

“In Nigeria, these sectors work separately, and that is why our efforts do not translate into development. Until we fix this through sound policies, credible leadership, and empowered intellectuals, progress will remain slow,” he added.

On his part, Professor Nuraddeen Yusuf of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Bayero University Kano, and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, said the theme was deliberately crafted in response to prevailing national challenges and ongoing economic reforms by the Federal Government.

Professor Yusuf explained that Nigeria’s development aspirations would remain unattainable without effective synergy between government, academia, and industry, noting that policies are often formulated without sufficient engagement with researchers, while industries pursue solutions without tapping into existing academic expertise.

“Government makes policies without fully considering what academia is doing, while industry has its own needs without asking whether solutions already exist within our universities. For a nation to develop, there must be deliberate and sustained collaboration among the three,” he said.

According to him, the conference was designed as a convergence platform for policymakers, scholars, and industry players to exchange ideas, align strategies, and promote engineering-driven national development.

The conference also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding engineering products and innovations that have made significant positive impacts across the country, states, and academic institutions, in recognition of excellence, creativity, and contribution to national development.

News

Governor Yusuf Sacks Sagagi as Kano Commissioner Of Commerce

Published

4 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has relieved Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi of his appointment as Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry with immediate effect.

This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday.

According to the statement, the former Commissioner is directed to hand over the affairs of the ministry to the Director Commerce with immediate effect.

Governor Yusuf expressed appreciation for the services rendered by the former commissioner during his tenure.

He acknowledged Sagagi’s contributions to the development of the state, particularly in the areas of politics, religion, small and medium enterprises.

The Governor wished him success in his future endeavours as he reassured the public of his administration’s continued commitment to efficient service delivery and good governance in the state.

This decision is part of the ongoing strategic realighment of government structures for systematic growth and sustainable development.

News

Terrorist Logistics Suppliers Apprehended in Borno

Published

16 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, have apprehended 18 suspected logistics suppliers allegedly enroute Gubio, with plans to proceed to the Gudumbali axis, a known Boko Haram terrorists, BHTs, enclave.

This is contained in a daily operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.

The military said the suspects were intercepted while travelling towards the location to deliver the goods to the terrorists.

According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that all 18 suspects confessed to engaging in the supply of goods to the terrorist group.

“They admitted that they routinely purchase and convey items to the terrorists.

“Their justification was lack of employment, which points to a deeper socio-economic challenge in Maiduguri and its environs,” the army said.

The development, according to the reportt, validates recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff on the link between economic hardship and the sustenance of insurgency logistics networks.

“The arrest highlights the critical role of civilian collaborators in sustaining terrorist operations, particularly in remote areas such as Gubio and Gudumbali,” it added.

The army called for a comprehensive approach combining military operations with economic empowerment and job creation to address the root causes of insurgency in the region.

News

Kano Gov’t Offers Study Scholarship to SWAN Members

Published

23 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

Kano state government has facilitated and supported members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Kano chapter to proceed to pursue professional certification courses in sports journalism, our correspondent reports .

The Special Adviser , youths and sports to Kano state governor, Sani Musa Danja, disclosed that the offer covers their tuition fees.

He said , the beneficiaries have been identified and their enrolment process have been completed.

According to him, through interactions with stakeholders , the decision was reached for some sports writers, who are faced with the challenge of acquiring the required professional qualification to practice their trade should be given support to fill the gap.

said, findings have revealed that , for Kano sports writers to compete favorably there exists the urgent need to empower members of the association to acquire certain requisite qualification to enable them feature amongst the best in Nigeria and beyond.

Danja speaking, when he hosted SWAN members in his office , located within the premises of Kano state Library Complex, along Ahmadu Bello Way said that the state government, under Abba Kabir Yusuf , on discovering this major challenge , acted swiftly to address the lapses, by offering to sponsor 10 SWAN members to pursue professional diploma in Sports Journalism at El Roi London University.

In his word “ we give thanks to almighty Allah for his mercies, I want to thank our mentor and leader, his excellency governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf , who made this possible.

“his excellency takes the issue of empowering our people very seriously, the challenge facing our sports journalists is principally the issue of professional certification, some of our sports journalists have their degrees in other fields, but we are aware that, they also require to obtain certain minimum qualification in journalism or other related fields to help them to excel .

“in line with the policy of the government of his excellency, we have moved in to make sure , these sons and daughter of Kano overcome this hinderance that may hinder their professional progress.

“the sports media is the back bone of sports development and sports promotion, our government is focused and committed to support and reshape the sports media to achieve the set out goal to empower Kano youths through sports.

“the mission of his excellency through this gesture is to empower our professional sports journalists and give them the required qualification to continue with their pursuit to upward steadily representation of Kano state in that sector.

Danja hinted that, Kano state government remains unrepentant in its upward investment drive to create a generation of professionals that would keep the state afloat on the terrain of quality and abundance human resources.

Reacting, chairman SWAN Kano chapter, comrade Zahradeen Saleh thanked the state government for the support.

He said, the scholarship offer is an major step towards uplifting the practice of sports journalism in the state.

He said the dividends of sports could only accrue with the effective operations of the sporting press through the training and re-training of sports writers.

He admitted that, acquiring the requisite qualification to practice sports journalism has been one of the major challenges confronting members of the association.

“ our members who are the beneficiaries of this offer are youths, on completion of the professional course, they will have stable professional growth and would be better equipped to contribute their quota to the development of the state.” Zahradeen said .