News

Nigeria’s Development Hinges on Engineering Innovation, Says Experts

Published

4 months 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

2027: I Will continue distributing job offers as i did in the past – Goro

Published

5 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

Former member, representing Fagge federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Aminu Suleiman Goro has pledged to continue distributing job offers the way he did during his past times as lawmaker.

Goro, the candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Fagge federal constituency in the 2027 elections, made the pledge in an interview with newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.

According to Goro, who was the Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Institutions during his time at the green chamber, he had distributed a lot of job offers to the youths in his constituency as part of his drive to human development.

Fondly called “Mai Gonar Offer”, literally means the owner of farm that produces job offers, added that that he would continue provide a lot of job opportunities toll youths at his constituency, as he had already begun exploring ways in that regard.

“As called ” Mai Gonar Offer”, i have already begun exploring hectares of land to cultivate job offers. This is something i am known for.

” I will continue from where i stopped many of those that secured federal jobs through me have attained the level of Director as their respective places of work. We will continue to build more people because that is the ideology of Kwankwasiyya,” Goro stated.

He expressed gratitude to the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, reaffirming his loyalty to the former governor of Kano state.

I thank Almighty Allah for giving me another opportunity under the leadership of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. I also appreciate all his associates and supporters for their confidence in me,” he said.

Reacting to rumours that he could betray Kwankwaso if elected into office, the former lawmaker dismissed the claims as baseless, saying he decided to join Kwankwasiyya when its leader lost a government from the defection of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“That is not true. We supported Kwankwaso even when he was not in government. Our loyalty is not because of political office or power. We joined him because we believe in his leadership and ideology. If it is for political interest, i would have rejoined with Kwankwaso at the inception of administration of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,” he said.

Goro assured the constituents of Fagge that his political camp would not only revive its past achievements but would also improve on them while defending the interests of the local government, Kano State, and the Kwankwasiyya ideology.

“By the grace of Allah, we will not only restore what we were known for, but we will also improve on it. We will continue to protect the interests of our people and the Kwankwasiyya movement, which is a movement for the common man,” he stated.

According to him, the Kwankwasiyya movement is rooted in Kano’s political history and inspired by the late Aminu Kano, whom he described as the ideological foundation of the movement.

“This ideology was inherited from Kano State. From Kano came leaders like Malam Aminu Kano, and in this generation, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso represents that same political philosophy,” Goro added.

Goro also expressed optimism that the NDC would win elections at all levels in 2027, attributing the success to the party’s ideology and manifesto.

“We are united in Kano and fully committed to supporting Kwankwaso politically. By Allah’s grace, the NDC will form government from top to bottom,” he said.

News

Eid Al-Adha Felicitations-Prof Muhammad Abbas

Published

12 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

From Professor Muhammad Adamu Abbas
Director General, Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC)

To:
His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf
Executive Governor of Kano State and the Good People of Kano State

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

On this blessed occasion of Eid Al-Adha, I extend my warmest felicitations to Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, and to the entire people of Kano State.

Eid Al-Adha reminds us of sacrifice, obedience, and compassion for humanity. As we celebrate, I pray that Allah (SWT) accepts our sacrifices, grants us peace, good health, and strengthens the bonds of unity across Kano State.

Your Excellency, I commend your unwavering commitment and readiness to support disease prevention, early detection, and rapid response in Kano State. Your leadership has created the enabling environment for public health institutions to thrive and serve the people effectively. The people of Kano are fortunate to have a Governor who places health security and the wellbeing of citizens at the heart of governance.

Under the guidance of the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, KNCDC, remains fully committed to its mandate. I assure Your Excellency and the good people of Kano State that KNCDC stands ready, with the continued support of Your Excellency and the strategic direction of the Honorable Commissioner, to prevent, detect, and respond promptly to all epidemic-prone diseases in the state.

May this Eid bring joy to every home, healing to the sick, and renewed strength to our collective efforts in building a healthier and safer Kano.

Eid Mubarak!
May Allah bless Kano State and Nigeria with peace, prosperity, and good health.

Signed,
Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas
Director General
Kano State Centre for Disease Control, KNCDC

News

Atiku Wins ADC Presidential Primaries in Kano

Published

1 day ago

May 26, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged victorious in the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held in Kano State, securing an overwhelming majority of votes cast across the state’s 484 wards.

Announcing the results in Kano on Tuesday, Dr. John Ayuba, a representative of the ADC national headquarters, declared that Atiku polled 155,995 votes to defeat his closest rivals in the keenly contested exercise.

According to the official figures released at the end of the collation process:

Atiku Abubakar — 155,995 votes

Rotimi Amaechi — 15,914 votes

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen — 9,994 votes

Dr. Ayuba stated that the primary election was conducted peacefully across all the 484 wards in Kano State, with party officials and delegates participating in the democratic process.

Speaking shortly after the announcement, he said the outcome of the Kano exercise would now be transmitted to the ADC national leadership for final collation and ratification.

“The election was conducted in the 484 wards of Kano State. We are going to forward the results to the national headquarters, and from there we will know who becomes the presidential flagbearer of the party,” he said.

The outcome further strengthens Atiku’s influence within the party structure in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states with a large voting population.

Political observers say the margin of victory recorded by the former vice president reflects his strong grassroots support and established political network in northern Nigeria ahead of the next general election.

Supporters of Atiku who gathered at the venue of the announcement celebrated the victory, describing it as a sign of confidence in his leadership experience and national appeal.

Meanwhile, party officials urged members to remain united after the exercise and work towards strengthening the ADC ahead of the presidential election.

The ADC national headquarters is expected to compile results from other states before making an official declaration on the party’s presidential candidate.