Prof. Mainoma @ 60: Ex-NSUK VC Seeks Mentorship, Research Reforms to Strengthen Education

Mainoma told his history in Abuja during a colloquium organised to mark his 60th birthday.

The event also served as a platform for reflection on Nigeria’s development challenges and an occasion to celebrate his academic and leadership contributions.

The gathering attracted academics, policymakers, community leaders and other eminent Nigerians, and featured the public presentation of several books documenting his career, scholarship and personal journey.

Personal Journey and Early Choices

Recounting his early education, Mainoma said he made independent choices from a young age and emphasized that his enrollment in university was the result of his own personal efforts.

At just two years old, he opted to attend a different Qur’anic school from his father’s, seeking broader exposure. This decision, he noted, shaped his outlook and enabled him to complete the Qur’an before entering primary school.

Contributions to Higher Education and Professional Growth

Reflecting on his tenure at NSUK, Mainoma said the university’s postgraduate programmes grew from 50 to more than 300 within five years, alongside the introduction of new disciplines such as taxation studies and public sector technology. He added that deliberate investment in mentorship had produced over 120 PhD holders under his guidance, more than 60 of whom are now professors in Nigerian universities.

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He also recalled his role in reviving stalled postgraduate programmes at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where reforms introduced under his supervision restored Master’s and PhD degrees that had been dormant for years.

“As a nation, we must do more to support mentorship and research. Our intellectual resources are abundant, but without proper structures, they will continue to be wasted,” he said.

Mainoma recalled his role in student demonstrations at ABU, which brought improvements such as water supply, common rooms with televisions, and better student facilities. As Vice-Chancellor, he said he encouraged constructive activism while pushing for reforms that advanced postgraduate education nationwide.

He also played a key role in bridging the Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree dichotomy by initiating conversion programmes that allowed HND holders to earn degrees.

Bindir Laments Wasted Human Resources

Delivering the keynote address, former Director-General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Umar Bindir, lamented Nigeria’s inability to fully harness its human and intellectual capacity for national development.

He said that despite decades of government policies and visions  the country had failed to eliminate poverty, create sustainable jobs and build world-class institutions.

“Our leaders have always launched visions, but the real question remains: why have we not answered the fundamental issues?” Bindir asked.

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He urged Nigeria to learn from countries such as Malaysia and South Korea, where consistent investment in research, education and industrialisation transformed their economies.

Bindir also highlighted the neglect of local innovations, citing his personal challenges in commercialising agricultural technologies in Nigeria compared to the ease of doing so in Asian nations. He called for stronger collaboration between universities, industry and government to bridge what he described as “the valley of death” in the country’s industrialisation process.

Mainoma Celebrated with Tributes

Former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, praised Mainoma’s achievements, describing him as “a patriot, mentor and nation-builder whose legacy extends beyond Nasarawa State to Nigeria and beyond.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Dr. Aliyu Bello, described the former Vice Chancellor as a statesman and mentor who consistently demonstrated integrity, discipline and vision. Bello said Mainoma often acted as a peacemaker, calming tense situations and fostering harmony in the institutions and communities he served.

Professor Uche Uwaleke, Nigeria’s first Professor of Capital Market Studies and a former mentee of Mainoma, described him as a visionary leader whose influence transcends academia.

Prof. Uwaleke, who served as pioneer Director of the Institute of Capital Market Studies at NSUK, said many of Mainoma’s mentees had risen to prominence in the academic community, with several serving as vice chancellors in Nigerian universities.

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Chairman of the organising committee, Dr. Usman Gur Mohammed, recalled Mainoma’s leadership during his student days at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he led his colleagues in advocating basic needs such as access to clean water at the Institute of Administration.

“Today, Professor Mainoma is one of the leading researchers in accountancy who has graduated a significant number of professors and PhD holders in Nigeria. He is a patriotic and progressive Nigerian who daily thinks of how to improve the socioeconomic development of the country,” Mohammed said.

Gratitude and Future Outlook

In his response, Mainoma expressed gratitude to God, his family, colleagues and friends for their support throughout his career. He said the challenges facing Nigeria required consistent effort, mentorship and innovation, urging leaders to ensure that every year delivers tangible progress.

The ceremony ended with prayers for his continued health, wisdom and service to the nation.