Stakeholders of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, have lauded the institution’s growing technological strength following its emergence as Nigeria’s top university in innovation in the 2025 SCImago Institutions Rankings.
The ranking placed ATBU first in Innovation, third in Research, and sixth overall among Nigerian universities, a feat stakeholders say underscores the rising influence of technology-driven institutions in national development.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Zailani Bappa, said the SCImago Institutions Rankings is a globally recognised assessment that evaluates universities and research bodies using verifiable indicators, including research performance, innovation output and societal impact.
Reacting to the development, an academic and stakeholder of the university, Dr Abubakar Usman, described the ranking as a landmark achievement that firmly positions ATBU on Nigeria’s innovation landscape.
According to Usman, the recognition goes beyond numerical placement, serving as strong evidence that technology-based universities are central to national transformation and the delivery of solutions to real societal and developmental challenges.
He noted that technology-focused institutions often face misconceptions about their academic depth and research relevance, but ATBU’s performance has decisively dispelled such views.
“Being ranked first in Innovation and third in Research highlights ATBU’s strong capacity to generate impactful knowledge, translate ideas into practical solutions and contribute meaningfully to industrial and societal development,” he said.
Usman added that the university’s leadership in innovation reflects a robust culture of technological creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research, stressing that innovation flourishes in environments designed for problem-solving and experimentation.
He further observed that ATBU’s strong showing across the three pillars of research, innovation and societal impact reinforces the role of specialised technology-based universities as hubs for innovation leadership and drivers of economic growth.
The ranking comes amid ongoing debates over the status of ATBU as a specialised technology institution.
The university’s management, staff and alumni have recently opposed moves to convert it to a conventional university following a motion sponsored at the National Assembly by the senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba.
The motion, which reached the public hearing stage, has continued to generate controversy, with many stakeholders arguing that ATBU’s recent global recognition strengthens the case for retaining its technological mandate.
