Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, has reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening its long-standing partnership with the Federal Polytechnic, Bida.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman made this known when he received a delegation from the Polytechnic, led by the Director of Affiliation Programmes and Linkages, Alhaji Haruna Jibril.
He commended the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, for its steadfast commitment to academic excellence and for maintaining a productive relationship with IBBU since the inception of their partnership in 2020. He stressed that no institution can operate in isolation, noting that collaborations such as this one allows Universities and Polytechnics to complement each other’s strengths while addressing their weaknesses.
According to him, the success recorded in running the four existing degree programmes is a testament to the value of the affiliation, adding that IBBU remains committed to sustaining and expanding such mutually beneficial engagements.
The Vice Chancellor also reassured the delegation that their request for additional degree programmes in Computer Science, Microbiology, and Biochemistry would be carefully considered after a review of the University’s human and material resources.
While addressing concerns on the placement of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders into higher levels of the degree programmes, Professor Sulaiman explained that although regulatory guidelines limit such arrangements, the University is open to exploring flexible but compliant measures to accommodate qualified candidates.
He further encouraged the Polytechnic not to view current challenges it is facing as setback but as opportunities for growth, pointing out that every large institution faces similar hurdles.
Highlighting the history of the partnership, Alhaji Haruna Jibril, who is the leader of the delegation recalled that IBBU’s Resource Verification Team visited the Polytechnic in July 2020, paving the way for the National Universities Commission (NUC) to grant approval in June 2023 for four full-time degree programmes of B.Sc. Mass Communication, B.Sc. Accountancy, B.Sc. Public Administration, and B.Sc. Business Administration.
He noted that the first set of students were admitted in the 2023/2024 academic session, with 44 students enrolled, while the 2024/2025 intake has grown significantly to 255 students across 100- and 200-levels.
Alhaji Jibril explained that growing demand has led to calls for more programmes, adding that the Polytechnic is also appealing for a review of the placement policy to allow candidates with Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates—particularly those with distinction or upper credit—to be admitted directly into 300-level of the degree programmes.
Other Principal Officers of the University unanimously commended the Polytechnic for maintaining a smooth and compliant relationship since the affiliation began.
In his closing remarks, the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki, thanked the Polytechnic’s delegation for their confidence in IBBU, reiterating that collaboration and research remain central to the University’s mission.
