By Abdulkareem Haruna

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Yobe State University, Adam Mustapha Goneri, had on Friday, Nov. 3 led a delegation, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mala Daura, and the Registrar, Alkali Gazali, on a courtesy visit to the North East Development Commission (NEDC). 

The delegation was at the NEDC Headquarters, Maiduguri, to amongst other things thank the the Commission for previous support and intervention.

The Pro-Chancellor said it was agreed During the 37th council meeting of the University that a formal letter of appreciation would be sent to the NEDC in recognition of the commission’s contributions. 

He noted that the NEDC has generously provided a 250-capacity ICT resource and training center, furniture and equipment, and assorted food items for university staff,” in the past. 

Goneri assured the NEDC of the council’s continuous support and highlighted the need for further assistance. 

Over the years, he said more than 20  buildings of the university have been destroyed by insurgents. The council has requested further aid in the form of student hostels, utility vehicles, boreholes, and other key infrastructural elements.

The MD and CEO of the NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, had communicated the commission’s commitment to the development of the northeast region, citing the necessity for manpower capacity. 

“One of our core mandates is to develop the Northeast, which requires significant investment in the education sector,” he said. 

“We recognize that universities play a central role in education development, and we are eager to partner with all universities in the region.” 

He affirmed that the Yobe State University is a major focus in their development plan, having already provided an almost complete auditorium.

Alkali ensured that the NEDC would carefully review the council’s requests and consider priority areas for intervention. The commission has also committed to providing scholarships, teacher training programs, and other educational initiatives.

He further encouraged the university to establish a center for intellectual engagement to address the core issues of the northeast region, similar to the centers that the Commission had set up at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).