A fire broke out on Thursday at the Kano City campus of North-West University, causing extensive damage to property valued at millions of Naira.
While no fatalities were reported, one staff member sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility.
The blaze, which erupted around 11:20 a.m., reportedly originated from an electrical spark and affected several offices within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) department, including those belonging to the Head of Department and academic staff.
A security officer trained in emergency response suffered from smoke inhalation while attempting to combat the flames and was taken to the campus clinic for medical care.
Firefighting teams from both the Kano State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service arrived promptly at the scene, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.
Confirming the incident, Sani Anas, Director of the Kano State Fire Service, noted that the situation was contained before it could escalate further.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Mukhtar Kurawa, also addressed the incident, stating that although the fire had been extinguished, a full assessment of the damage was still underway.
“We are grateful that there was no loss of life, even though we cannot yet determine the total value of the damaged property,” he said.
Professor Kurawa also emphasized the university’s safety protocol, which mandates that all electrical appliances be turned off at the end of each day to reduce risks, conserve energy, and manage operational costs. He added that routine checks are conducted to ensure all departments comply with this policy.
