Vice-Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi, Prof. Fatimah Tahir, has called on Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence, tolerance and mutual respect, describing the country’s cultural diversity as a powerful tool for national unity and integration.
Tahir made the call during the Second Sa’adu Zungur University Cultural Exhibition and Language Fair (SAZUCELF 2026), organised by the university’s Centre for Languages and Culture Studies yesterday.
She said the cultural festival provided an important platform for promoting understanding among people of different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, adding that the maiden edition held last year revealed the rich cultural diversity that exists within the university community.
“About a year ago, we held a similar programme and it truly demonstrated that there is unity in diversity. We discovered different languages and cultures within the university that many of us never knew existed, and today we are privileged to witness another remarkable edition,” she said.
The vice chancellor stressed that cultural interaction is essential in academic institutions as it promotes understanding, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
“It is always important for people to live in peace and harmony, and we cannot achieve that if we do not have the ability to tolerate one another. Our presence here today demonstrates our commitment to living peacefully with one another and embracing the spirit of unity in diversity,” she stated.
To preserve the institution’s cultural heritage, Prof. Tahir directed the Centre for Languages and Culture Studies to establish a unit dedicated to documenting the various languages, cultural practices, traditional cuisines and artefacts represented within the university.
She also proposed the creation of a permanent cultural corner where artefacts from the diverse ethnic groups in the institution would be displayed for educational and historical purposes.
The vice chancellor commended the director of the Centre for Languages and Culture Studies and members of the organising committee for sustaining the annual cultural festival and promoting intercultural understanding within the university community.
Earlier, chairman of the local organising committee, Dr. Bala Abdullah Azare, described Nigeria’s cultural and linguistic diversity as invaluable national assets that strengthen unity and foster peaceful coexistence.
He said the festival was organised to promote appreciation of Nigeria’s diverse cultures, preserve indigenous languages and traditions, deepen mutual understanding and encourage cooperation among members of the university community.
Azare appreciated the university management for its unwavering support towards the successful hosting of the event and urged participants to proudly showcase their cultural heritage while promoting healthy competition, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
No fewer than 17 cultural groups, alongside two Hausa language clubs Sashen Hausa and Gamji participated in the exhibition, showcasing their heritage through language displays, indigenous cuisines, music and traditional dance performances.
Highlights of the event included a guided exhibition tour led by the Vice Chancellor, indigenous cuisine and language exhibitions, cultural performances by pupils of the University Staff School, the investiture of Prof. Fatimah Tahir as the “Culture Ambassador,” and colourful displays of traditional music and dance by the participating cultural groups.