Follow Us on Google
…upgrades Zankli Centre to research institute, resumes Law admissions after one-year ban
Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, has secured $1.44 million in research grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in Nigeria.
The university said it also recorded a major regulatory breakthrough recently with the lifting of a one-year admission ban on its Law programme, stressing that the development will enable the university to recommence admissions into its Faculty of Law, following the decision of the Council of Legal Education to lift the moratorium imposed over alleged breaches of operational guidelines.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Haruna Kuje Ayuba, disclosed these developments on Saturday during the university’s 7th Convocation Ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session.
He said the university had already admitted students into the 100 level of its Law programme for the 2026/2027 academic session, but direct entry admission into the 200 level remained excluded.
Ayuba described the lifting of the restriction as a significant development for the university, which had been working to address the regulatory concerns that led to the suspension of admissions.
On research development, the Vice-Chancellor said the university’s Zankli Research Centre attracted a total of $1.44 million in funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support research into tuberculosis diagnosis in Nigeria.
“The grants comprise an initial $672,877 and an additional $768,433, including supplementary support for a research project titled, ‘Impact Evaluation of Near Point-of-Care TB Diagnostics in Nigeria.’
He said the project, scheduled to run from July 2026 to December 2027, would generate evidence on the effectiveness of near-point-of-care diagnostic approaches and contribute to improving TB detection and diagnosis in the country.
To strengthen the institution’s research capacity, Ayuba announced that the university had approved the conversion of the Zankli Research Centre into the Zankli Research Institute. “The transformation would enable the institution to undertake more research, develop the capacity of young medical researchers and expand postgraduate training opportunities,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the institute’s Director, Associate Professor John S. Bib, had received an Honorary Senior Lectureship award from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, in recognition of his research contributions.
On academic standards, Ayuba said seven undergraduate programmes assessed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in October and November 2025 secured full accreditation, while Computer Science obtained interim accreditation.
He added that the university had also expanded its postgraduate offerings from 40 to 69 programmes following Senate approval for additional courses.
Meanwhile, the VC said the institution graduated 1,895 students in the 2026 convocation, and this comprises 1,315 undergraduates and 580 postgraduate students.
“Of the undergraduate graduands, 71 obtained First Class honours; 472 secured Second Class Upper Division; 337 made Second Class Lower Division; while 66 graduated with Third Class degrees, and two obtained Pass degrees,” he explained.
On access to education, Ayuba said the university awarded scholarships and tuition-fee waivers worth N231.3 million to 779 beneficiaries during the 2025/2026 academic session.
He further announced an enhanced salary package for academic and non-academic staff, which took effect from November 1, 2026, modelled after the Federal Government’s 2025 salary frameworks for university and tertiary institution workers.
In another major development, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the university had cleared its outstanding debt to ECWA Portfolio Management Limited after eight years of repayment, describing the achievement as a significant milestone in its financial management.
He said the university had also invested in infrastructure, including two newly constructed students’ hostels, an 800-seat computer-based test centre, a multipurpose laboratory and office complex, and other facilities to improve teaching, learning and research.
Despite the achievements, Ayuba identified inadequate student accommodation, the need to expand the university’s health centre and postgraduate school, and the construction of additional faculty buildings and modern laboratories as challenges requiring attention.
He appealed to stakeholders to sustain their support for the institution’s development.
In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and former Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Dr Peter Abdu, commended the management for its achievements in academic development, research funding and infrastructure.
Similarly, the President of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Worldwide and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Dr Job Ayuba Bagat Mallam, congratulated the graduands and reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to the institution’s continued growth.
He urged the graduates to uphold integrity, excellence, service and lifelong learning, while remaining worthy ambassadors of the university.
