Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Lahore, Pakistan, aimed at strengthening academic collaboration, research exchange, and global institutional engagement.
The Vice-Chancellor of NWUS, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, disclosed this on Monday during a press conference, describing the agreement as a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to internationalisation and capacity development.
Prof. Bunza said the partnership aligns with the vision of the Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to advance higher education through cross-border cooperation and strategically position the institution within the global academic community.
According to him, the MoU establishes a structured framework for cooperation in teaching, research, training, and scholarly exchange, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and expanding learning opportunities for both students and faculty members.
He explained that the two institutions would collaborate on academic exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, curriculum development, and professional training.
The agreement also provides for participation in seminars, conferences, workshops, and other scholarly engagements to promote best practices in higher education delivery.
The Vice-Chancellor further noted that the partnership creates opportunities for staff and student mobility, collaborative academic development, and the sharing of institutional expertise, initiatives expected to enhance research output and foster intercultural understanding.
Emphasising the strategic importance of the agreement, Bunza described it as a practical step toward building sustainable academic bridges capable of delivering measurable gains in research productivity, capacity development, and educational quality.
He added that the collaboration is anchored on the National Universities Commission (NUC) framework on Transnational Education, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards, institutional capacity requirements, and quality assurance safeguards governing cross-border academic partnerships.
The alignment with regulatory provisions, he said, reinforces transparency and academic integrity while supporting NWUS’s objective of responsibly internationalising its programmes in line with national policy directives guiding transnational higher education in Nigeria.
Prof. Bunza expressed appreciation to the leadership of the University of Lahore for their cooperation and voiced confidence that the partnership would deliver mutual benefits to both institutions, their students, and society at large.
