Baze University celebrates 15th Founder’s Day with a debate, celebrates growth and academic excellence

Baze University celebrated Founder’s Day 2026 with a student-focused program that highlighted the institution’s growth, academic achievement and commitment to leadership development.

The event, held on Wednesday 11 March, featured a competition of inter-faculty debates and artistic performances by students on the theme “Legacy in Action: Students as custodians of the Founders’ vision”.

Speaking at the ceremony, the University’s Founder and Chancellor, Distinguished Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, PhD, FSAN, reflected on the journey the institution has made since its founding in 2011 and reiterated the role of education in national development.

He described education as a powerful tool for transformation and urged students to uphold the values ​​of integrity, critical thinking and innovation.

The Provost encouraged students to pursue excellence with determination and resilience, charging faculty members to continue their dedication to teaching, mentoring and research.

Also speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jamila Shuara said the celebration of Founder’s Day provides the university with an opportunity to honor the foresight, courage and dedication of its founder, the distinguished Senator Baba-Ahmed, whose vision led to the founding of the university in 2011.

According to her, at a time when Nigeria required institutions capable of providing world-class education, the founder envisioned a university that combined academic excellence, innovation, integrity and global relevance. He noted that the institution continues to celebrate the lasting impact of that vision.

Professor Shuara added that the university has seen significant growth since its inception, expanding from two faculties and around 20 students to nine faculties and a College of Medicine and Health Sciences. He revealed that the institution currently offers 116 accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programs and has produced more than 4,500 graduates.

He also noted that the university now enrolls over 7,000 students and operates a teaching hospital equipped with modern facilities, adding that plans are underway to take off the Baze Aviation School at the institution’s Bwari campus.

The Vice Chancellor attributed the university’s progress to the dedication of faculty and staff, enthusiasm of students, loyalty of alumni and continued support from stakeholders.

As part of the celebration, students took center stage in an inter-faculty debate on the motion “Investment in education is the most sustainable strategy for nation building: myth or imperative”. The team that supported the motion emerged victorious, while Maryam Muktar was named Best Speaker.

The program also featured spoken word and poetry performances by students, reinforcing the institution’s emphasis on creativity, intellectual engagement and student leadership.