The Yobe State House of Assembly has pledged to support Yobe State University (YSU) through increased budgetary allocation and advocacy for interventions from key development agencies. This commitment was made by the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chroma Buba Mashio, during a courtesy and familiarisation visit by the university's management team led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Bashir Tahir. The visit aimed to brief lawmakers on the university's achievements, challenges, and immediate needs eight months after Prof. Tahir assumed office.
The Speaker congratulated Prof. Tahir on his appointment as the fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor of Yobe State University. He noted that the Vice-Chancellor had previously served as Medical Director of the Police Hospital in Damaturu before his appointment to lead the university. The Speaker assured that the Assembly would invite the Vice-Chancellor and his management team to participate in the 2027 budget defence. This would enable the lawmakers to work with the university to ensure adequate budgetary provision for its operations and development.
The Speaker also pledged the Assembly's support in helping the university engage with development agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). He mentioned that the Assembly would use relevant platforms, including the Nigerian Speakers Conference, to pursue engagement with these agencies. The Speaker expressed confidence in the capacity of the new university management to sustain the institution's progress and improve its standing.
During the visit, Prof. Muhammad Bashir Tahir highlighted the university's achievements over the past eight months. These included the successful conduct of the 2025/2026 academic session's first and second semester examinations and the completion of accreditation processes for Medical Laboratory Science and Radiography in the College of Medical Sciences. He also disclosed that 16 medical doctors had been sponsored for foreign postgraduate training, with seven already commencing studies in India.
Prof. Tahir attributed the foreign training intervention to the support of Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni. He also disclosed that 32 academic staff had been sponsored for postgraduate training within Nigeria, while 70 academic and non-academic staff were sponsored for in-house postgraduate programmes at Yobe State University. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the commissioning of the permanent site of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) as another major intervention.
The Vice-Chancellor also mentioned the introduction of six new postgraduate programmes during the 2025/2026 session and the establishment of a new Faculty of Computing. Other developments included collaboration initiatives with the University of Health Sciences, Azare, and approval of postgraduate affiliation for the College of Education and Legal Studies, Nguru. Ten students also benefited from the Grema Mohammed Scholarship sponsored by Ashaka Cement Company.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Speaker, and members of the State House of Assembly for their continued support to education and the development of Yobe State University. He also disclosed that Governor Buni had approved the full implementation and payment of the Federal Government-ASUU 2025 Agreement, including arrears, and consideration for similar implementation for non-academic staff under CONTTA. The governor had also approved the renovation of 50 housing units allocated to the university.
Key points
- Yobe State House of Assembly pledges increased budgetary allocation and advocacy for Yobe State University's development.
- The university's management team, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Bashir Tahir, briefed lawmakers on the institution's achievements and challenges.
- The Speaker expressed confidence in the capacity of the new university management to sustain the institution's progress and improve its standing.
