In a defining moment for one of Nigeria’s most prestigious universities, the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has appointed Professor Haruna Musa, fsi, as the institution’s 12th Vice-Chancellor, marking the beginning of a new chapter driven by experience, innovation, and academic excellence.
The announcement, made on Thursday, July 3, 2025, followed a rigorous selection process and was formally communicated in a letter signed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna. The appointment is for a single five-year term, effective August 18, 2025.
“The Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano…hereby approves your appointment as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, for a single tenure of five years with effect from 18th August, 2025,” the letter read.
With over three decades of academic, research, and administrative experience at BUK, Professor Musa’s appointment is widely seen as a strategic decision aimed at consolidating the university’s reputation as a leading centre for innovation, research, and inclusive development in West Africa.
Born on June 20, 1967, in Dambatta, Kano State, Professor Musa’s story is one of resilience, commitment, and deep intellectual pursuit. After his early education in Dambatta, he earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry from BUK in 1991, and later, an M.Sc. in Polymer Chemistry (BUK, 1999). In 2009, he earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Bristol in the UK, where he also gained hands-on research experience working part-time with Revolymer Ltd, a university spin-off.
Since joining BUK as a Graduate Assistant in 1993, Prof. Musa has built a robust academic portfolio, supervising more than 300 undergraduate and 60 postgraduate research projects, and publishing 52 peer-reviewed papers, eight book chapters, and over 40 international conference presentations.
As a scientist, Professor Musa has made significant contributions to renewable energy and environmental sustainability research. He led a ₦36 million National Research Fund project to develop electrically rechargeable zinc-air batteries and currently heads an international collaboration with North Carolina State University, USA. That partnership brought cutting-edge Filabot equipment to BUK for advanced plastic recycling research.
His ongoing research collaborations span institutions in India, Morocco, Senegal, and Saudi Arabia, placing BUK firmly on the global academic map.
Currently serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Musa has chaired some of the university’s most critical bodies, including the Senate Business Committee and the University Admissions Committee. He previously headed the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry (2015–2019) and held leadership roles at the Centre for Renewable Energy Research (CRER) and the TETFund Centre of Excellence on Renewable Energy and Sustainability Transitions (CREST).
His deep experience in governance includes terms on the Senate, University Management Committee, and the Governing Council itself. These roles, combined with his work with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and contributions to Kano State’s Science, Technology and Innovation policy, underscore his reputation as both a local and national leader
Beyond his academic and administrative roles, Professor Musa was also Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at BUK from 2020 to 2024, where he championed staff welfare and institutional autonomy. His grassroots advocacy continues through the Dambatta Educational Development Initiative (DEDI), an NGO he founded to support underprivileged students in his hometown.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON), Polymer Institute of Nigeria (FPIN), and the Security Institute (fsi), among others’
As Professor Musa prepares to take the helm, expectations are high. BUK is at a pivotal point, balancing its ambitions of global competitiveness with the realities of funding constraints, infrastructure expansion, and digital transformation in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Speaking to staff shortly after the announcement, a senior academic in the Faculty of Science said, “This appointment comes at a critical time. Haruna Musa is not just a scholar—he’s a builder. We expect him to unify the university and take us into a new era.”
In an institution where continuity, research excellence, and student-centered reforms are vital, Professor Haruna Musa’s appointment has stirred optimism across academic circles.
Professor Musa is happily married with children. When not in the lab or leading strategic meetings, he enjoys reading, travelling, watching football, and mentoring young scholars. His career reflects a fusion of science, service, and stewardship—qualities that now define BUK’s new vision under his watch.
As the university counts down to August 18, one thing is clear: Bayero University, Kano, is set to begin a transformative journey under a leader shaped by its halls, elevated by its mission, and prepared to carry its legacy forward.