The history of the University dates back to 22nd June, 2010 when the State Executive Council constituted a 9–Member Technical Committee chaired by Prof. Munzali Jibril, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The Committee submitted its Report on 31st December, 2010 which included an Academic Brief and the Draft University Law.

The State Executive Council, in February 2013, considered the Report and approved the establishment of a university to be called “Jigawa State University, Kafin Hausa”. The University was envisaged to be ICT-driven and entrepreneurial in orientation. The Academic Brief provided that the University should commence admissions in the 2013/2014 session and run through a four-phased five-year development, when it would have three (3) Schools, twenty (20) Faculties, fifty-nine (59) Academic Departments and two hundred and sixty-one (261) Programmes across the levels by the year 2032.

To actualize the recommendations of Prof. Munzali Jibril’s Committee, the State Government constituted a 10-Member University Implementation Committee (UIC) in May 2013 chaired by Prof. Haruna Wakili, the then Honourable Commissioner, MOEST, Jigawa State. The Committee served as the University’s Management and Governing Council up to the time the two bodies were put in place.

The University Establishment Bill passed by the Jigawa State House of Assembly was signed into Law by the State Governor on 13th May, 2013 thereby giving the young university a legal standing as a corporate entity. In December 2014, the State Assembly passed another Bill that amended the Law by renaming the University SULE LAMIDO UNIVERSITY, KAFIN HAUSA, which was assented to by the Governor on 23rd December, 2014.

The University was licensed by the NUC on 17th July, 2013 as the 39th State–Owned University and 129th in the Nigerian University System (NUS). With the appointment of Principal Officers and subsequent constitution of Management in December 2013, the UIC recruited pioneer Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff for the University, preparatory to the commencement of academic activities in September 2014.

Philosophy

The University shall draw inspiration from and be a beacon of light to all the people of Jigawa State and shall dedicate itself to the creation of better living conditions for the people. The University shall do this through the application of knowledge and skills generated.

Mission

“To produce graduates sound in character and learning, at undergraduate and graduate levels, imbued with the spirit of service and dedicated to innovative applications of knowledge aimed at improving the lives of people within Jigawa State, the nation and humanity in general”.

Vision

“To be a top class University that provides a stimulating teaching, learning and research environment in pursuit of solutions to societal problems.”

Objectives

The objectives of the University are to:

  1. Make higher education more accessible to the people of Jigawa State in an environment that reflects the religious and socio-cultural values of the society.
  2. Nurture quality graduates in all fields of knowledge fully conscious of their history and duty to serve and empower their community to face its many challenges, by infusing in them the positive values that will build their characters as future leaders.
  3. Recruit, develop and retain highly qualified teaching staff that will be committed to the ideals of research, teaching and community service.
  4. Equip all students with entrepreneurship education and skills, so as to empower them to be job creators capable of adding value to the economy of and exploiting the natural resources of Jigawa State, rather than job seekers upon graduation.