Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen
Students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have lauded the legacy of Professor Lawal Sulaiman Bilbis as he concluded his tenure as the university’s Vice-Chancellor on July 29, 2024.
Professor Bilbis’s leadership has been celebrated and honored by Danfodiyo students for his significant contributions to the university community.
In interviews with several students, they described the Vice-Chancellor as a person of significant impact.
Speaking with the Harbinger, Mustapha Usman, a 400-level student of History and International Studies, praised Professor Bilbis’s impact as he stepped down from his office. Usman reflected on the state of UDUS when he gained admission on January 14, 2020, noting that while the infrastructure was already developed, Professor Bilbis’s tenure added considerably to it.
“When I got admission, I met ongoing projects across the university community which Professor Bilbis tried and completed and even went beyond the existing projects,” Usman said.
He highlighted developments such as the division of the Faculty of Science into the Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, and the creation of new faculties like the Faculty of Physical and Computing Sciences and the Faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Additionally, Usman noted the installation of solar power systems across the university and student hostels, as well as the ongoing construction of the new UDUS Senate building.
Professor Bilbis’s Academic Career at UDUS
An indigene of Tsafe in Magazu Village, Zamfara State, Nigeria, Professor Bilbis held a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Usmanu Danfodiyo University (1986) and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Essex, England (1992).
Born in 1961, Professor Bilbis began his academic career as an Assistant Lecturer at UDUS in 1988. He held various positions, including Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), and Director of the University Development Office. He became a Professor of Biochemistry at UDUS in 2002 and served as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, in 2013. Appointed as the 9th Vice-Chancellor of UDUS on July 11, 2019, he led the university through five years of notable progress and achievements.
During Professor Bilbis’s tenure, several new courses were introduced, including B.A. Qur’an, B.A. Hadith, B.A. Shari’ah, Doctor of Optometry, Demography, Peace and Conflict Studies, Education Computer Science, Education Agriculture, Educational Management, Guidance and Counseling, and Library and Information Science.
Usman noted that the number of inaugural lectures held during Bilbis’s tenure exceeded 40, a significant increase from the fewer than 20 lectures previously held.
In an interview, Khaleefarh Abdullahi Donna, a 300-level History and International Studies student of the school, praised the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, stating, “Professor Bilbis is a scholar who did his utmost best in leading UDUS, putting it on the map of modern universities with many infrastructural developments and academic enhancements. He is a leader by example, a scholar by nature, a teacher by passion, and a father to all. He will be forever missed for his intelligence, integrity, dignity, morals, and values.”
Zakariyah Abdulwaheed, a graduate of Education and Extension Services, added, “UDUS is not only the most peaceful university in Nigeria but also one of the hardest. During his tenure, Professor Bilbis significantly improved the infrastructure, making him beloved by many students. He also frequently checked lecture rooms to ensure lecturers were present, which motivated them to deliver quality lectures. He is a jovial man and very approachable.”
