Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has led a high-powered delegation to Malaysia as part of efforts to deepen educational, cultural and investment partnerships between Gombe State and the Southeast Asian nation.
The visit coincides with the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree on Governor Yahaya by Lincoln University College, Malaysia, in recognition of his contributions to education and development.
Lincoln University College has established a campus in Kumo, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, where it provides higher education aimed at strengthening human capital development and positioning the state as an emerging centre of learning in the North-East.
As part of activities preceding the award ceremony, Governor Yahaya was hosted to a special luncheon by the Nigerian High Commission in Malaysia, where he was formally received by the Chargé d’Affaires and Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Malaysia, Ambassador Sani Danlami.
The Governor expressed appreciation to the High Commission for the warm reception and hospitality, and briefed officials on the progress made in establishing the Lincoln University campus in Gombe State.
He described the initiative as a strategic partnership designed to expand access to quality higher education.
The Governor interacted with students from Gombe State who are currently studying in Malaysia, commending them for their dedication to academic excellence, while urging them to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies.
Governor Yahaya also encouraged the students to act as good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria, projecting a positive image of the country abroad.
The Governor was accompanied by the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo; former Nigerian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ambassador Dr Hajara Ibrahim Salim; the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi; a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Nasiru Abdulkarim; former Commissioner for Higher Education, Batari Maji Dauda; and the Director-General, Research and Documentation, Ahmed Husaini.
Speaking during a welcome dinner hosted in his honour by the management of Lincoln University Malaysia, Governor Yahaya reiterated that education, skills acquisition and human capital development remained the central focus of the partnership between the Gombe State Government and Lincoln University Malaysia.
He said the collaboration was strategically aimed at widening access to quality higher education, strengthening skills development and building the human capital base required to support sustainable socio-economic growth in Gombe State.
Governor Yahaya further assured that his administration was fully committed to implementing the partnership in line with established regulations and international best practices, noting that the agreement was designed to deliver measurable and long-term benefits to the people of the state.
Meanwhile, the President and Founder of Lincoln University, Professor Dr Amiya Bhaumik; the Chancellor, Professor Norman Madsen; the Pro-Chancellor, Professor Dr Hajia Bibi Abdullah Florina; and the Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln University Nigeria, Dr Murtadho Alao, commended the Governor for his leadership and consistent support for the initiative.
They described the Gombe–Lincoln partnership as a forward-looking model for strengthening higher education and promoting global academic collaboration.