The Yobe State House of Assembly has pledged to increase budgetary support for Yobe State University and help the institution secure additional interventions from relevant development agencies.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Chiroma Buba Mashio, made the commitment on Tuesday when the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Tahir, led members of the management team on a courtesy visit to the lawmakers.
Mashio said the Assembly would invite the university management to participate in the 2027 budget defence, with a view to addressing the institution’s funding and developmental needs.
He assured the university that lawmakers would work towards ensuring adequate financial provision for its operations and growth during the next budget cycle.
The Speaker also pledged the Assembly’s support in helping the university access interventions from organisations such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and other relevant development agencies.
He said the Assembly would use platforms, including the Nigerian Speakers Conference, to facilitate engagements between the university and the agencies.
Mashio further asked the university management to provide expert advice to the state government on challenges affecting primary and secondary education.
He said the quality of students entering tertiary institutions was closely linked to the standard of education they received at the basic and secondary levels.
Earlier, Tahir said the visit was intended to strengthen the relationship between the university and the Assembly and brief lawmakers on the institution’s achievements, challenges and immediate needs.
The Vice-Chancellor said his administration, which assumed office in January 2026, had focused on repositioning the university for academic excellence, accountability and greater community impact.
Tahir disclosed that the university had successfully conducted first- and second-semester examinations for the 2025/2026 academic session and completed accreditation processes for Medical Laboratory Science and Radiography.
He also revealed that 16 medical doctors had been sponsored for postgraduate training abroad, with seven already studying in India and six others scheduled to travel to Malaysia in October.
In addition, 32 academic staff had received sponsorship for postgraduate training within Nigeria, while 70 academic and non-academic staff had benefited from in-house postgraduate programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the commissioning of the permanent site of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre, the introduction of six new postgraduate programmes and the establishment of a new Faculty of Computing.
The Assembly’s planned budgetary intervention comes as preparations begin for the 2027 state budget, with the lawmakers indicating that Yobe State University’s funding requirements will be considered during the budget process.
