By Ibrahim Muhammad
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has concluded a three-day intensive training on blockchain and financial technology for staff of Khalifa Isyaka Rabiu University (KHAIRUN), Kano.
The exercise, which ended on Thursday, is part of a wider initiative by CITAD to address what it described as a “glaring knowledge gap” in emerging technologies among universities in Northern Nigeria.
KHAIRUN becomes the third institution to benefit from the programme after Bayero University, Kano, and Baba Ahmed University.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinator, Mr. Muhammad Sani Sa’idu, said research conducted by CITAD revealed that fewer than 10 per cent of universities in the region currently expose students to courses on blockchain or financial technology.
“Lagos is already being called Africa’s innovation capital, while Northern Nigeria lags behind. With this programme, we are taking innovation to the doorsteps of universities so they can pass it on to students, integrate it into the curriculum, and fuel the innovation ecosystem of the North,” Sa’idu explained.
He added that blockchain applications could extend beyond finance to improve university administration, such as managing student records, tracking academic progress and examinations.
A data analyst and facilitator at the training, Mr. Yusuf Babagana, noted that misconceptions about cryptocurrency had worsened the knowledge gap.
“Some lecturers still think cryptocurrency is a scam. That mindset blocks innovation. This training is about sensitising them, breaking myths, and showing how blockchain and fintech can drive societal progress,” he said.
Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor of KHAIRUN, Prof. Abdulrashid Garba, described the programme as a bold step in preparing staff for the demands of a tech-driven world.
Also speaking, the Registrar, Malam Yusuf Datti, hailed the initiative as a “timely intervention,” noting that it had broadened the staff’s understanding of technology’s role in modern education.
“This is more than just a workshop; it is capacity-building with a vision. Our staff can now see how technology can transform both teaching and administration.
CITAD has planted a seed that will grow into innovation in this university and beyond,” Datti stated.
