Senator Barau I Jibrin, Deputy President of the Senate, wants Nigeria's universities to turn research into money. He made the call when North West University's management visited him in Abuja on Thursday.
Leading the delegation was Vice Chancellor Professor Amina Salihi Bayero. The senator urged them to commercialise research like top global institutions do.
"Do not leave innovations in laboratories or bookshelves," Barau told the visitors. "Patent them and create value from them."
He pointed to Harvard, MIT and Cornell as models. According to him, these universities leverage research, partner with industries, and generate revenue through innovation.
Barau, who once chaired the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, stressed that universities must diversify their income sources. Research commercialisation offers one reliable pathway, he noted.
The senator emphasised that developing universities requires more than government funding alone. "It needs the assistance, intervention and cooperation of all," he said.
Even federally-funded institutions routinely seek external support, according to him. No single entity can sustain a university on its own.
Barau ranked human capital as the most critical resource for nations. "It is no longer about petroleum or solid minerals," he noted.
In his words: "The number one factor of production in any nation is human capital." Education must therefore remain a top priority, he stressed.
Impressed by the university's rapid expansion since 2012, Barau announced a donation. North West University will receive a coaster bus from his office.
Professor Bayero, who took office in December 2025, expressed gratitude for the senator's support. She highlighted his scholarships, grants, and infrastructure projects across the education sector.
The university has grown significantly under her leadership. It now operates ten faculties and hosts 30,000 students.
At inception, the institution had just one faculty. The expansion reflects steady institutional development over the years.
Bayero said the visit aimed to explore collaboration opportunities. Both parties discussed ways to strengthen their working relationship going forward.
