Kano initiates collaboration between North-West University, Spain

KANO State government says it has made moves to build collaborative relationship between the state-owned Northwest University and the Regional Government of Cantabria, in Spain, towards boosting the educational status of the university.

A seven-member delegation comprising state government officials and representatives of the Northwest University, led by its pro-chancellor, Malam Sule Yahaya Hamma, who paid a working visit to Spain, held discussions on possible areas of collaboration between various enterprises of Cantabria Region and Kano State.

The team leader told officials of Cantabria Regional Government that as a young institution, the Northwest University is embarking on expansion plan, and is particularly interested in tapping from the experience of the University of Cantabria in the areas of research, staff/students’ exchange as well as ICT deployment.

“We hope our visit would open a door that will trigger a partnership with the University of Cantabria in the areas for capacity building for staff of Northwest University, deployment of ICT, library resource management and short-term Staff/Students exchange programme,” he said.

The team initiated discussions with the University of Cantabria’s Faculty of Medicine towards the take-off of the Public Health and Diagnostic Institute, as well as the establishment of a Faculty of Clinical Sciences and a teaching hospital at the Northwest University.

Both teams also discussed potential partnership with the Hydraulic Institute at Santander, on technical assistance aimed at establishing a Faculty of Engineering with specialization in Water Resources Engineering at the university.

Meanwhile, the team leader noted that the visit opened a window for Kano State business community, and advised the State Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture to further coordinate contacts and pursue possible trade missions to explore investment opportunities.

In her remarks, the Vice President and Minister for Universities, Research, Environment and Social Policy, Eva Diaz Tezanos, said public and private sectors in her region are ready to establish possible relationships in the areas of education, commercial, industrial and tourism exchange with the Kano State government and its business community.

Other members of the team were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr. Bakari Ado Hussain; the vice chancellor, Northwest University, Professor Mustapha Ahmed Isa; Director Special Duties, Deputy Governor’s Office, Alhaji Dan Asabe Yahaya; Senior Special Assistant to Governor, Uba Tanko Mijinyawa, and Esteban Ortiz Abascal, CEO B&B Leather Limited.