By Mukhtar Sani Saulawa, Gombe

North-Eastern University (NEU), Gombe, has broadened its international footprint by establishing strategic academic partnerships with two highly ranked Malaysian institutions: the University of Malaya (UM) and the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM).

The agreements were finalized during an official visit to Malaysia, led by NEU’s Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Sani Jauro, Dan Lawan of Gombe.

This development signals a major advancement in NEU’s vision to become a globally recognized hub for research, innovation, and higher education excellence.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Jauro emphasized that the partnerships highlight NEU’s unwavering commitment to academic growth grounded in innovation, ethics, and global best practices.

“This collaboration will not only strengthen our academic foundation, it will also position NEU as a key bridge between Africa and Asia,” he said.

According to a statement the agreements cover student and staff exchange programmes, joint research supervision, and collaborative initiatives in emerging technologies.

Through the partnership, NEU students will have the opportunity to study in Malaysia under semester-based exchange arrangements, gaining access to advanced research facilities and international learning environments—with full credit transfer to their degree programmes in Nigeria.

Officials from UM and UTM applauded NEU for its forward-thinking approach to global collaboration, describing the agreement as a model for meaningful cross-continental academic development.

Dr. Jauro noted that NEU’s international network is expanding steadily, with existing collaborations including the University of Surrey (UK), the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Misr University of Science and Technology (Egypt). He stated that these alliances are part of the institution’s mission to produce globally competitive graduates equipped for modern challenges.

He added that the partnerships will enhance staff development, support groundbreaking research, and promote cultural exchange, all of which contribute to NEU’s growing reputation worldwide.

With this milestone, NEU Gombe continues to move forward as one of Nigeria’s emerging universities championing global engagement and excellence in higher education.

By Abdulaziz Ibrahim Hassan

While neighbouring states like Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Kano are sending their sons and daughters abroad to study medicine, engineering, technology, and other critical courses that can transform their economies, Gombe, the Jewel in the Savannah, continues to watch from the sidelines.

Just recently, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai of Yobe South sponsored one hundred students to India for bachelor’s and master’s degrees under his Education Trust Fund. It wasn’t a mere political gesture, it was a bold, visionary commitment to the future of his people.

The send-forth ceremony in Potiskum carried the inspiring theme “Empowering Youths Through Education.” The initiative brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, and families, all united by the shared joy of seeing young people given wings to fly through education.

But as Yobe celebrates, Gombe must ask itself a painful question: where are our own lawmakers?
Where are our three senators?
Where are our representatives at the National Assembly?
Where are our State Assembly members?
And, most importantly, where is the Gombe State Government in all of this?

How many indigent students from our state have been offered similar opportunities to study critical courses capable of reshaping our development story?

In states like Bauchi, Jigawa, and Kano, leaders are investing heavily in minds, not just monuments. They understand that true development is not in buildings or painting, but in people by giving the next generation the knowledge and skills to build a stronger economy of their beloved states.

Sadly, in Gombe, we continue to celebrate token projects that win applause but leave no legacy. Our education budget struggles to reach children even within the metropolitan area, just like how some children in Galdimari still under trees just to learn their ABCs.. Our scholarship schemes come and go like political seasons, inconsistent, and unsustainable.

Let’s be clear: this is not about lack of funds; it is about lack of foresight and priority.
If a single senator from Yobe can personally sponsor one hundred young people to study abroad, what excuse can Gombe’s government and three senators possibly offer?

Gombe has no shortage of intelligent, ambitious youth but only a shortage of leaders willing to believe in their potential.

It’s time for our legislators and state government to rethink their approach to governance. Leadership is not about ribbon-cutting or self-promotion; it’s about planting seeds of progress that will outlive politics.

Education is not an expense, it is an investment in the soul and survival of a state. The return is a generation of citizens who can innovate, create jobs, and lead Gombe to the greatness it deserves.

Our leaders must wake up.
Stop the politics of applause and start the politics of impact.

Because when you empower a child through education today… you secure the destiny of a people tomorrow.

By Our Correspondent

As schools across Gombe State resume for the new academic term, the Education Secretary of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Shongom, Mrs. Satiyel Buba, has directed all teachers in government-owned primary and secondary schools in the area to resume work without delay on Monday, 15th September, 2025.

Speaking during a school resumption meeting with head teachers, supervisors, and principals, Mrs. Buba emphasized the need for teachers to begin teaching immediately after resumption. She said the meeting was convened to serve as a reminder for teachers on effective teaching techniques expected to guide them in discharging their duties diligently.

The Education Secretary further called on parents and guardians to ensure their children return to school promptly, stressing that lessons would commence without delay. She also commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) Chairman, and the Executive Chairperson of Shongom LGA, Dr. Fatima Binta Bello, for their commitment to creating a conducive learning environment in schools.

Mrs. Buba appealed to host communities to take responsibility for safeguarding school facilities in their respective areas from vandalism by unpatriotic individuals.

In his remarks, the ANCOP Coordinator, Shongom LGA chapter, Mr. Ezekiel Malachi Maikano, noted that the association had made it a tradition to regularly meet, brainstorm, and reflect on past activities in order to correct lapses where necessary. He urged teachers and principals to remain alert to current developments, particularly those affecting the teaching profession, and to continuously update their knowledge to meet global standards.

Also speaking, the Central Supervisor of Shongom LGA, Mrs. Dija Yusuf, expressed gratitude to the Education Secretary for introducing the new syllabus and updates. She charged teachers to put the techniques and knowledge acquired into practice to enhance productivity in their schools.

With schools now open, stakeholders in Shongom LGA have reaffirmed their collective resolve to ensure effective teaching and learning, as well as the protection of public school facilities.