Dangote donates N1.2bn first Business School in the North to BUK

The business educational development of Northern Nigeria took a new turn at the weekend when renowned businessman, Aliko Dangote, donated a N1.2 billion ultra-modern business school edifice to the Bayero University, Kano, (BUK), first of such in the North.
Christened Dangote Business School, the business mogul disclosed that talks are on to affiliate the school with the popular Harvard Business School, in the United States (U.S.).
Speaking at the opening of the school at the new site of the university, Dangote stated that no effort was spared to ensure that the school building was up to international standard and one of the biggest in sub-Sahara Africa.
Dangote said the Business School, which was commissioned by the Kano State Governor, Abdulazeez Umar Ganduje, was conceived  as part of his contributions towards encouraging world class entrepreneurship education at the highest level in Nigeria.
He described the school as best of its kind in Northern Nigeria, adding that the school, as accredited by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), will be the first Business School to offer Doctor of Business Administration PhD programme in Nigeria.
Dangote added that the Business School would ease sharing of business information globally and how future African leaders could advance their businesses as well as building capacity which would translate to boosting the continent’s economy.
He traced the journey of the construction of the school to the days of Prof Attahiru Jega as the Vice Chancellor when he pleaded with him to help in the establishment of a business school that can accelerate  entrepreneurship in the country.
He said he agreed to build the edifice because of his conviction that good quality education is the bedrock of meaningful development in the country and only a sound mind can facilitate development.
The school, according to him, will train African business leaders by carrying out research on how Nigerians can do business in the very particular kind of environment and succeed.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammed Yahuza Bello, said with the new business school, the university is now poised to serve the society better through training, research and services.
He said the university adopted the name “ Dangote Business School”, because the name Dangote is internationally synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and successes in business and industry and pledged that the school will live by its name and tradition.
Explaining the uniqueness of the school, he stated that the new structure comprises 650 seating capacity auditorium, two theaters, four lecture halls, two libraries, incubation center, two cafeterias, 800kva soundproof generator and borehole, among others.
In their separate remarks, Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar; his Jigawa State counterpart, Governor Muhammed Badaru Abubakar and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, showered accolades on Dangote for his several interventions in various sectors in the state and beyond, urging other wealthy individuals to emulate him.
Ganduje said Nigerians have a lot to learn from Dangote whose wealth has no influence on his humility and is ever willing to help his immediate environment and make the society better.
He pleaded with the University authority to give Dangote an opportunity “to lecture once in a while in the school because he has a lot to offer beyond theories in text books as a successful business man”.
Emir Sanusi said what Dangote has done is what he has always advocated for other Nigerians to do.
He expressed his appreciation to Dangote for rising to the occasion each time he calls on him to do one thing or the other in the interest of the society.
The Emir urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Dangote and contribute to the development of the country.