By Mukhtar Sani Saulawa, Gombe.

The North-Eastern University, Gombe (NEU), has been granted a Full Operational Licence by the National Universities Commission (NUC), marking a major milestone in the institution’s growth and long-term stability.

The development was announced by the University’s Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Sani Jauro, the Dan Lawan of Gombe, during a  visit to His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, at the Emir’s palace on Friday. The Emir, who serves as the University’s Chancellor.

Dr. Jauro noted that since the institution received a provisional licence in 2022, it has remained focused on delivering quality teaching, strengthening modern facilities, and expanding hands-on training efforts he said were greatly encouraged by the Emir’s steady support.

“This achievement of the North-Eastern University is not just ours alone; it is a collective success for the people of Gombe State and Nigeria as a whole,” Dr. Jauro said. “We remain grateful to His Royal Highness for his unwavering support, as well as to the management team whose dedication has driven the university’s growth.”

In his remarks, the Emir of Gombe congratulated the University, describing the Full Operational Licence as a landmark that reflects NEU’s steady progress and its commitment to academic excellence and discipline.

“Securing full accreditation from the NUC is a remarkable achievement. It underscores how far the University has come and reaffirms our collective vision for educational excellence,” the Emir said. “This is a matter of pride for every citizen of Gombe who values education as a tool for development.”

As background, the University recently posted an average score of 91.4 per cent in NUC programme accreditation exercises an outcome that underscores the institution’s academic standards while the full licence secures its operational footing.

With this licence, North-Eastern University, Gombe, is poised to consolidate its place among leading private universities in northern Nigeria, producing graduates equipped with knowledge, character, and skills to drive societal development.

By Mukhtar Sani Saulawa 

North-Eastern University (NEU), Gombe, today hosted celebrated self-taught legendary inventor (Dr). Usman Hadi, in a strategic visit aimed at fostering innovation, enhancing practical skills training, and driving both institutional growth and positive community impact.

During the visit, Dr. Hadi met with the Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Sani Jauro, where both parties agreed on key areas of partnership. Dr. Jauro assured the inventor that the university is prepared to sponsor him at any stage necessary to bring his inventions to life.

“NEU Gombe, is ready to stand by you at any stage necessary to ensure your inventions become a reality. We believe your skills and creativity can inspire our students and uplift the community.”

The collaboration will also see the introduction of a practical entrepreneurship course, where students will learn hands-on skills directly from Dr. Hadi’s wealth of experience. Additionally, the founder pledged that NEU would provide him with a fully equipped workspace on campus whenever needed.

Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Usman Hadi commended the university’s commitment to innovation and pledged to contribute his expertise to the benefit of the institution, its students, and the wider community.

“I am ready to contribute my knowledge and experience to the development of this university, its students, and the community at large,” he said.

Over five decades, since the early 1970s, Dr. Hadi has developed more than 78 inventions, including a radio station, radio transmitter, a Vespa-engine helicopter, and a mobile handset all without formal Western education. One of his most famous creations is a stove that runs using only water, requiring no kerosene or gas. Built through years of trial and error, the stove harnesses the atoms and electrons in water, using copper, a speed motor, battery, burner, and water bottle to generate energy for cooking.

The visit ended with a guided tour across some of NEU’s key facilities, including the Centre for African Medicinal Plant Research (CAMPRE), the Anas Aremeyaw Anas Multimedia, Content Creation & Innovation Centre, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship.

The collaboration is expected to serve as a model for linking grassroots innovation with academic excellence in Nigeria.

By Our Correspondent

In an extraordinary display of brilliance and linguistic mastery, 17-year-old Nafisa Abdullah Aminu from Yobe State has stunned the world by emerging as the best English language performer globally at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London, United Kingdom.

Nafisa, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe, outshone over 20,000 students from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. Her outstanding achievement is now sparking national debate and a growing demand for official recognition by the Nigerian government.

A National Treasure Deserving National Honour

Nafisa’s triumph is a testament to what is possible when talent meets opportunity, discipline, and the right support system. Her success has stirred a wave of pride among Nigerians and reignited conversations around the value of education in shaping the nation’s future.

Many Nigerians are now calling on the federal government to reward Nafisa with $100,000, a three-bedroom flat, and a national honour, preferably the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) — a recognition previously given to athletes following major international victories.

This sentiment mirrors what happened earlier this year when the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s football team, were rewarded with $100,000, a flat each, and national honours following their historic win at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Similarly, the D’Tigress, Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, received significant rewards after clinching their fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and qualifying for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

“What Is Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander”

Educational advocates, civil society leaders, and citizens alike argue that academic excellence should be celebrated on the same level as sports victories. “If our athletes can be honoured for lifting the nation’s name high, then so should a young student who conquered the world using the English language — a global skill,” one education activist said.

They are also urging the federal government to invite Nafisa and her English teacher to the State House, recognising both their efforts, similar to how coaching crews are celebrated in the sporting world.

Education as the Passport to the Future

Nafisa’s victory sends a clear message — that with the right environment, Nigerian students can compete and win on the global stage. Her success is not just personal; it is symbolic of what Nigeria stands to gain if it invests seriously in its educational sector.

“Education is the passport to the future, and tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today,” one passionate supporter said. “We must reward our best minds just as we do with our best athletes. Nafisa has done what many believed was impossible.”

As calls grow louder, all eyes are now on the Presidency and the Ministry of Education. Will the nation honour a girl who has become a symbol of hope, excellence, and Nigeria’s potential on the world stage?

For now, Nigerians continue to beam with pride and hope that the government will do the needful — because truly, Nafisa deserves it all.