Governor Yahaya Advocates Workforce Skill Development at North-Eastern University

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has encouraged North Eastern University, Gombe, to prioritize equipping students with practical skills that will enable them to become employers upon graduation.

The governor shared this message during the matriculation ceremony for 450 newly admitted students for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Represented by the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Governor Yahaya urged the university to resist pressures to introduce programmes that do not equip students with employable skills.

“Desist from any pressure to bring in programmes that will only yield out graduates who don’t have any skills,” Prof. Njodi said.

North Eastern University is already implementing a “One-student-one-skill” strategy, aimed at ensuring each student learns at least one trade before graduation.

This includes practical skills such as solar installation, photography, welding, and broadcasting.

Architecture students participate in field studies, while Mass Communications students gain hands-on experience in the university’s studio, producing a radio programme called Leaders of Tomorrow, which is aired on a local station.

Law students also benefit from a mock courtroom on campus, where they practice legal proceedings and observe real cases in local courts.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Yahaya Amuda Yusuph, highlighted that the institution was dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for research, particularly in the area of drug development through the African Medicinal Plants Research initiative.

This programme, he says aims to develop plant-based products for treating diseases in Nigeria.

Professor Yusuph further emphasized the university’s commitment to discipline and its zero tolerance for vices and indiscipline, aiming to shape students’ abilities to excel in their chosen careers.

“As Gombe State’s first private university, North Eastern University is poised to make a significant impact by producing graduates who aspire to be employers, not merely employees,” he stated.

The Registrar, Hauwa Abubakar, noted that the university offered over 27 degree programmes across the sciences and social sciences, providing students with a broad array of academic choices.

She highlighted that the university’s focus on academic excellence was evident in its recent recognition of 256 students with GPAs ranging from 4.85 to 5.00.

The Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Sani Jauro welcomed the new students and emphasized the university’s commitment to providing quality education and promoting discipline, including a strict stance against drug abuse and misconduct.

Dr. Jauro underscored that the university’s goal was to develop the human capital needed for regional progress and national growth.