By Ayodele Oni
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has said that the funding of the State owned university will be a joint effort between the state and Local Governments.
He gave the assurance when the governing council of the university paid him a courtesy visit in Damaturu.
The Governor said his Government is mindful of the economic challenges facing all sectors of society, and the university is no exception.
He expressed the readiness of his administration to provide the university with more resources to continue with the pursuance of academic excellence.
“The future of the state and our people rely on the university to produce the manpower needed for good governance and quality services to the state.”
He charged the governing council to reach out to agencies like the Tetfund and development partners to source for more funds.
“Other tertiary institutions are benefitting from these agencies. You should also take this advantage and scout for additional funds for the university.”
The governor noted that the northeast states are working to establish 10 megawatts solar power electricity project to improve power supply in the region.
“We are also working on the North East Development Commission to consider another 10 megawatts solar power project to further improve power supply in the sub-region.”
Gov. Buni expressed optimism that the two projects, when completed, would stabilise electricity supply in the Northeast region.
Meanwhile, the state government is converting 170 boreholes connected to the national grid to hybrid solar powered supply, with 10 boreholes in each of the 17 local government areas.
Earlier, the Chairman of the council, Barrister Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, said the funds allocated to the university have become unrealistic with the increasing rate of inflation.
Goniri said more funds are needed to meet the basic and other requirements of the university.
“More funding is required to meet the needs of the University for it to excell as a Centre of academic excellence.”
