By Mukhtar Sani Saulawa, Gombe

Northeastern University, Gombe, has received a courtesy visit from the General Manager of the Gombe State Water Board, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, who visited the institution to assess the water supply challenges facing the university.

The visit provided an opportunity for the university management to present the difficulties it has been experiencing in providing adequate water for students and staff, particularly due to the absence of a direct water supply system to the campus.

Speaking during the engagement, the Danlawan of Gombe Pro-Chancellor and Founder of Northeastern University, Sani Jauro, described water as an essential resource for the smooth operation of the university, noting that the institution has been making significant efforts to ensure that students and staff have access to water despite the challenges.

Dr. Jauro explained that the university has had to rely heavily on water tankers to transport water over long distances to the campus, a situation that has led to increased operational costs due to the rising expenses of diesel, vehicle maintenance, and logistics.

He added that maintaining a constant supply of water is critical for the university because students residing on campus cannot be left without water even for a short period, especially as the institution strives to maintain high standards of cleanliness and environmental management.

The Founder also noted that the university has plans to develop a green and environmentally friendly campus, including the establishment of gardens and botanical spaces for academic and ecological purposes, which would require a reliable and sustainable water supply.

Dr. Jauro expressed appreciation to the General Manager for personally visiting the university to assess the situation, describing the visit as a clear demonstration of the Water Board’s willingness to support the institution in addressing its challenges.

In his response, the General Manager of the Gombe State Water Board, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, acknowledged the concerns raised by the university and assured the management that the Water Board would study the situation carefully in order to determine practical ways of improving water supply to the campus.

Also present during the visit, the Vice-Chancellor of Northeastern University, Yusuph Amuda Yahaya, expressed appreciation to the Water Board for its interest in addressing the university’s needs, noting that reliable water supply is essential for the continued growth and development of the institution.

By Our Correspondent

The Gombe State Office of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) has partnered with Youth O’Clock to promote environmental sustainability, economic development, and social accountability across Gombe State.

The partnership was formalized during a meeting held at the ACReSAL State Office in Gombe, where both parties agreed to collaborate on various environmental initiatives targeting nine communities: Dukku, Hashidu, Malala, Billiri, Kaltungo, Cham, Gwani, Wade, and Nono.

Speaking during the meeting, ACReSAL State Project Coordinator, Dr. Sani Adamu Jauro, said the collaboration would focus on tree planting, medical outreaches, and town hall meetings aimed at enhancing grassroots engagement and supporting climate action efforts in the state.

On his part, the State Coordinator of Youth O’Clock, Comrade Abdulazeez Sani Labaran, revealed that at least 4,500 trees would be planted across the nine communities, with each community receiving a minimum of 500 trees. He added that Youth O’Clock also plans to establish orchards in all public higher institutions across Gombe State to foster both environmental and economic benefits.

Deputy State Coordinator of Youth O’Clock, Maryam Adamu, disclosed that a mega event is planned across the three senatorial zones of the state. The event will incorporate tree planting activities, medical outreach programs, and town hall meetings, while also addressing critical social issues such as drug abuse prevention, herders-farmers conflict resolution, and public health education.

Dr. Jauro assured that ACReSAL would provide technical training to the Youth O’Clock team to ensure effective service delivery on environmental projects. He commended the organization for its initiative and reaffirmed ACReSAL’s commitment to advancing environmental resilience efforts in the state.

Highlighting ACReSAL’s achievements, Dr. Jauro noted that the Gombe State project unit was ranked the best performing among the 19 participating northern states and the Federal Capital Territory during the 2024 performance assessment. He attributed the success to the support from the state government, citizens, and partners like Youth O’Clock.

Other ACReSAL officials present at the meeting included Aminu Maigari from the Climate Change Office; Dr. Ibrahim Jalo, Environment and Safeguard Officer; Mohammed Musa Aliyu, Natural Resource Officer; Mohammed Hassan, Project Accountant; and Abdullahi Hussaini, Management Information Systems Officer.

The Youth O’Clock delegation comprised Deputy Coordinator Maryam Adamu; Treasurer Bello Adamu; Head of Finance Amina Ahmed Yuguda; Head of Advocacy Asma’u Umar Bayu; Head of New Media Mustapha Danyarwa; and team member Joshua Maisheru.

The partnership is expected to boost grassroots participation, promote environmental sustainability, and strengthen climate resilience efforts across Gombe State.