The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Professor Haruna Musa, fsi, on Thursday, 1 January 2026, commissioned an ultra-modern 7-Aside Futsal facility constructed by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), BUK branch, and named after the University’s 7th Registrar, Malam Haruna Aliyu.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor described the facility as more than a sporting infrastructure, noting that it represents SSANU’s foresight, unity, and strong commitment to staff welfare. He said the project demonstrated that staff welfare goes beyond rhetoric and must be backed by concrete action, vision, and sacrifice.
Professor Musa commended the SSANU leadership for its dedication and prudent management of resources in delivering the project, adding that the initiative aligns with the University’s vision of promoting a healthy work environment where staff can thrive physically, mentally, and socially. His remarks were delivered by the Registrar, Malam Haruna Aliyu.
The Vice-Chancellor, whose speech was read by the Registrar, further assured SSANU and other staff unions that the University Management remains committed to supporting genuine initiatives aimed at improving staff welfare. The Vice-Chancellor later inspected the facility and expressed satisfaction with its quality, commending the SSANU leadership under the chairmanship of Comrade Mustapha Aminu for providing purposeful leadership that culminated in the completion of the project.
In his remarks, the Registrar, Malam Haruna Aliyu, expressed deep gratitude and appreciation for the honour bestowed on him. He said he was delighted, honoured, and overwhelmed by the decision to name the facility after him, describing it as a reflection of SSANU’s culture of appreciation and recognition. A former Vice-Chairman and Chairman of SSANU, he thanked the leadership and members of the association for the gesture and pledged his continued support to the union.
The Registrar also urged SSANU members to sustain their support for the administration of Professor Haruna Musa, whom he described as a Vice-Chancellor committed to staff welfare and the overall development of the University community.
The National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, represented by the National Vice-President, North-West Zone, Comrade Sabo Balarabe Wudil, praised the BUK SSANU leadership for executing what he described as a gigantic project. He noted the cordial and synergistic relationship between the union and the University Management and expressed satisfaction with the level of staff welfare and development at Bayero University, Kano.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Mustapha Aminu, traced the history of the project to the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas. He recalled that the current Vice-Chancellor, while serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), was fully aware of the project and supported it wholeheartedly. He said the facility would enhance staff health, improve security around the Sports Complex, and add aesthetic value to the area.
Comrade Aminu explained that naming the futsal facility after the Registrar was a strategic decision in recognition of Malam Haruna Aliyu’s selfless service, impact, and transformative leadership during his tenure as SSANU Chairman. He also acknowledged the Executive Director of S Square, Saifullahi Sanka, who constructed the facility under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sports Consultative Committee and Technical Director of the Nigerian University Games, Professor Musa Garba Yakasai, described the facility as the best of its kind among Nigerian universities. He disclosed plans to approach Moniepoint to host its next national futsal competition for Nigerian universities at the facility. He also presented a medal to the Registrar on behalf of the President of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), Professor Bawa Mohammed.
In his goodwill message, the Director of Sports, Bayero University, Kano, Professor Rabiu Mohammed, said the commissioning of the facility was timely, especially as NUGA has included futsal in its events for the next games scheduled to hold in 2026 at the University of Calabar. He noted that BUK students would utilise the facility in preparation for the competition and described the project as a record-breaking achievement within the Nigerian university system.