By Auwal Hassan
The Vice Chancellor of Sa'adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi, Professor Fatimah Tahir, has called on Nigerians to embrace cultural diversity as a catalyst for national unity, peaceful coexistence and sustainable development.
She made the call during the Second Sa'adu Zungur University Cultural Exhibition and Language Fair (SAZUCELF 2026), organised by the Centre for Languages and Culture Studies, where she described tolerance and mutual respect as indispensable ingredients for building a harmonious society.
Professor Tahir said the annual cultural festival has continued to demonstrate the richness of the University's multicultural community, noting that the maiden edition held in 2025 exposed the wide range of languages and cultures represented within the institution.
"About a year ago, we held a similar programme and it clearly demonstrated that there is indeed unity in diversity. We discovered several languages and cultures within the University that many of us never knew existed, and today we are witnessing another remarkable celebration of our diversity," she said.
The Vice Chancellor stressed that institutions of higher learning must continue to promote initiatives that foster understanding among people of different backgrounds.
"Activities like this are very important in an environment such as ours. Peaceful coexistence can only thrive where there is tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for one another. Our presence here today reflects our collective commitment to embracing the ideals of unity in diversity and living together in peace," she stated.
To preserve the University's cultural heritage, Professor Tahir directed the Centre for Languages and Culture Studies to establish a documentation unit that will compile records of the various languages, cultural practices, indigenous cuisines and traditions represented in the institution.
She also proposed the establishment of a permanent cultural gallery within the University to display artefacts from the different ethnic groups, describing it as a lasting legacy that would preserve the institution's cultural history for future generations.
The Vice Chancellor commended the Director of the Centre and members of the Local Organising Committee for sustaining the initiative and ensuring that the Centre continues to promote cultural scholarship and intercultural understanding.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Bala Abdullah Azare, described Nigeria's cultural and linguistic diversity as invaluable national assets that define the country's identity and strengthen unity among its people.
He said the cultural fair was designed to celebrate indigenous languages and traditions, promote cultural understanding and encourage peaceful coexistence among members of the University community.
Dr. Azare expressed appreciation to the University Management for its unwavering support towards the successful hosting of the event and urged participants to showcase their cultural heritage with pride while upholding the values of mutual respect, healthy competition and national unity.
The event attracted seventeen cultural groups alongside two Hausa language clubs—Sashen Hausa and Gamji—which showcased Nigeria's rich cultural heritage through language exhibitions, indigenous cuisine, traditional attire, music and dance performances.
Highlights of the colourful event included an exhibition tour led by the Vice Chancellor, indigenous cuisine and language displays, cultural performances by pupils of the University Staff School, the investiture of Professor Fatimah Tahir as the University's Culture Ambassador, and captivating traditional music and dance presentations by the participating cultural groups.
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