…VC Appreciates Gov. Inuwa’s Support, Pledges to Drive Varsity Towards Self-Sufficiency
…As University Secures 4 Billion Naira Infrastructure Grant
The Gombe State Government is strengthening efforts to ensure the state produces the skilled manpower required to harness its vast mineral wealth, particularly the Kolmani oil fields, in pursuit of sustainable economic growth and development.
Speaking in Gombe, the newly confirmed Vice-Chancellor of Gombe State University (GSU), Professor Sani Ahmad Yauta, said the university is poised to play a strategic role in producing skilled manpower, especially in petroleum-related fields, to ensure that the state and its people derive maximum benefits from the newly discovered hydrocarbon deposits at Kolmani region.
“GSU is not only committed to producing quality graduates but also determined to expand into vital fields such as engineering, petroleum exploration, and applied sciences, so our youths are fully prepared to seize the opportunities Kolmani presents,” he stated.
Prof. Yauta expressed appreciation to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for his unwavering support to the institution, including the approval to establish a new Faculty of Environmental Sciences in Dukku and a Faculty of Agriculture in Malam Sidi.
He noted that these expansions are part of the Governor’s vision to create wider access to higher education for Gombe youths while also building a knowledge base that directly supports the state’s socio-economic growth.
“Governor Inuwa Yahaya has shown extraordinary commitment to education. His vision is what enabled us to establish new faculties and to align our academic programmes with the emerging needs of Kolmani,” the VC said.
The VC disclosed that GSU had been allocated 365 hectares of land at Garin Tafida, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, to develop large-scale commercial agriculture, explaining that the initiative is designed to reduce over-dependence on government subventions and move the institution towards financial self-sufficiency.
He added that collaborations have already been initiated with Michigan State University in the United States and other international partners aimed at building a world-class Faculty of Agriculture.
“Our goal is to reduce reliance on government subventions by building alternative revenue streams such as commercial agriculture. This approach will not only boost our revenue but also create jobs and contribute to food security,” he stressed.
On infrastructure, the VC revealed that GSU was recently selected among 18 Nigerian universities to benefit from a 4 billion Naira Federal Government grant.
The funds, he said, “will be used to construct lecture theatres, laboratories, and hostels, while also modernizing older structures within the institution to accommodate the growing student population.”
Reflecting on GSU’s journey, Prof. Yauta recalled that the university celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024. From its humble beginnings in 2004, the institution has grown remarkably in infrastructure, academic programmes, and graduate output.
A recent tracer study, he said, showed that GSU graduates are well-represented in ministries, departments, and agencies across the state; an indication of the university’s significant contribution to human capital development.
The VC pledged to consolidate the gains of the past while charting a bold new course for the university.
He maintained that GSU’s ultimate goal is to stand out as a center of excellence in the Northeast, positioned not only to produce competent graduates but also to drive research, innovation, and partnerships that will sustain the region’s development aspirations.
“With continued government support, partnerships, and the goodwill of the people, Gombe State University will stand tall on the global academic map,” he noted.