The Yobe State House of Assembly has assured Yobe State University of improved financial backing as the institution seeks to address its developmental and academic needs.
The Speaker, Chiroma Mashio, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a meeting with the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Tahir, and members of the management team who visited the Assembly.
Mashio said the university would be part of the 2027 budget defence, adding that lawmakers would consider its needs when reviewing the state’s proposed budget.
“We will invite you for the budget defence. In Sha Allah, after His Excellency presents the budget here in Yobe State, we will look into your problems and see that the university has adequate budgetary provision for you to work as expected,” he said.
He congratulated Tahir on becoming the institution’s fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor and said the timing of the visit was important as preparations for the 2027 budget begin.
The Speaker also said the Assembly would help the university pursue funding opportunities through agencies including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the Universal Basic Education Commission.
Mashio added that lawmakers would use platforms such as the Nigerian Speakers Conference to strengthen the university’s engagement with relevant development agencies.
He further asked the university management to contribute ideas that could help the state improve its primary and secondary education sectors.
“We are having problems from secondary to primary school in Yobe State. We want to know how you, as learned people with qualified professors and others, can advise us and advise the state government so that the level of our secondary and primary schools can be improved,” he said.
Tahir, in his remarks, said the visit was aimed at deepening cooperation between the university and the legislature.
He explained that since taking office in January 2026, his administration had introduced measures aimed at improving academic standards, accountability and the university’s contribution to society.
“Since we assumed office, we have focused on repositioning the university for academic excellence, accountability and greater community impact.”
The Vice-Chancellor said the university had completed both semesters of the 2025/2026 academic session and secured accreditation for Medical Laboratory Science and Radiography.
He disclosed that 16 medical doctors were sent for postgraduate training outside Nigeria, with seven currently studying in India and six others expected to commence training in Malaysia in October.
According to him, “The foreign training intervention has been made possible through the support of the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.”
Tahir also revealed that 32 academic staff had been supported for postgraduate studies within Nigeria, while another 70 academic and non-academic workers had undergone in-house postgraduate programmes.
He listed the completion of the permanent site of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre among the administration’s achievements, noting that the project received funding support from Governor Buni.
The university also introduced six new postgraduate programmes in the 2025/2026 session and established a Faculty of Computing, he added.
