UNIMAID College of Medicine needs about 20 billion for complete overhaul for the future

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Vice Chancellor University of Maiduguri (UNIMAD) Professor Mohammed Mele has said that his University will need not less than 20 billion naira to upgrade the facilities in the College of Medicine which boasts of the allied health science and Basic medical science departments.

He said that after 50 years of producing quality medical practitioners with such limited facilities in the College which were grossly inadequate to take care of more students, it was time to prepare proactively for the future which is already at their door steps.

Professor Mele noted that if the institution must continue to live to the high expectations of the North East of Nigeria and the entire Lake Chad region, there was a need for a massive overhaul and expansion of the facilities on ground to ensure that the institution meets up to expectations of its catchment area.

Prof Mele made these assertions recently during a pre convocation news conference held in the main campus of the institution where he announced that the University was one of the beneficiaries of 4 billion naira grant from TET Fund for the expansion of medical facilities aimed at increasing the enrollment into the highly sort out Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy departments.

The VC further noted that with the increase in the demand for education in the University, it was high time management plans ahead for the future years paving way for more intakes of students so that the catchment area in need for medical professionals will not suffer acute deficit.

” For now we take only about 150 students for the MBBS programme but we have seen that the current demand is far beyond that figure so this fund will assist us to expand the laboratories where our students train by getting more medical equipment for them to work with while acquiring quality education to take care of the deficit in the region.

” After correcting some of these lapses, it is our intention to double the intakes to about 100 percent so that at least 300 students can be trained for medicine at a time like wise pharmacy and other allied sciences” said Mele.

The VC hinted that the Federal Government has also allocated over N700 million for provision of hostels in the Medical College as well as more funds for the establishment of a Simulation Laboratory adding that these laudable interventions will further strengthen the University’s position as a Centre of Excellence in medical training.

Convocation and Honours

On Saturday’s 25th convocation, the VC further hinted that 20,164 graduates, which is the largest in the history of the institution will receive their certificates.

“These include: 66 PhDs1,020 Master’s Degrees 3,851 Postgraduate Diplomas 13,624 Bachelor’s Degrees 1,699 Diplomas.

“For the Bachelor’s degree, there are: 205 First Class Honours 3,114 Second Class Upper and 9,501 Second Class Lower.” Said the VC.

“We congratulate our graduates for their hard work, resilience and dedication.Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary)Our Golden Jubilee is a profound celebration of resilience, growth and unwavering purpose.

“From its humble beginnings with just two faculties, the University of Maiduguri has evolved into a vibrant institution comprising 17 faculties, a College of Medical Sciences, a Dynamic college of Postgraduate Studies and 12 specialised research centres.” he maintained

He posited that through years marked by insurgency, economic constraints and even a global pandemic, the University has stood firm as a steadfast symbol of courage, stability and intellectual fortitude for the entire Sahel region.

During this celebration, the VC said that the University will honour three exceptional Nigerians whose contributions to society are exemplary as well as appointment as Professors Emeriti some Professors whose mentorship and service have left an indelible legacy in this University.

University Endowment Fund

To secure the next fifty years and beyond, the VC said that the University has established the UNIMAID Endowment Fund to assist in the development of the campus and all it’s academic activities.

Mele revealed that the fund is expected to serve as an enduring vehicle to strengthen research, expand infrastructure, nurture innovation, support scholarships and ensure long-term financial sustainability.

“We therefore extend an earnest call to our alumni; partners, corporate organisations, philanthropists and all lovers of education to join hands with us in shaping the UNIMAID of the future.” Said Mele.

On recent achievements the VC noted that they have been involved in the renovation and upgrade of over 32 lecture theatres to meet up to the expectations of the next fifty years.

Others include: “Complete refurbishment of toilets and common rooms across 10 halls of residence. Ongoing phased upgrade of staff offices and faculty buildings.Improved street lighting, pavements, walkways and landscaping. Enhanced sanitation through a strengthened Directorate of Sanitation and Landscape. “

Five new middle-aquifer boreholes, approved and funded by the Borno State government, has also been sunk in the campus.

Other areas of achievements include the provision of staff housing, installation of laboratory equipment, scholarships and sponsorships for students and staff, solar-powered boreholes and direct financial assistance.

The State Government, through the Borno State Education trust Fund, also recently constructed and donated a two-storey academic complex comprising classrooms, laboratories, staff rooms and a library to the University Demonstration Secondary School.

“Their investments have significantly strengthened our research capacity, improved teaching and learning, enhanced community service, supported humanitarian initiatives and reinforced resilience programming across the institution.” Said Mele.

UNIMAID College of Medicine needs about 20 billion for complete overhaul for the future

NUJ renews calls for completion of Gombe Press Centre

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has renewed its call on Gov Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State to complete its Press Centre in the state.

Former National Secretary of the NUJ, Comrade Shuaibu Usman Leman who made the call in Gombe on Monday said the presence of such facility would help journalists practising in the state.

Leman made the call shortly after an inspection tour of projects in the state as part of activities to commemorate the Gombe State NUJ Council Press Week.
He said that the facility would complete other development strides being recorded in the state.

According to him, with Gombe State’s growing status as an emerging mega state, it ought to have a Press Centre to ensure the comfort of journalists towards effectively carrying out their responsibility in the state.

“The other most important thing I would say is the NUJ Press Centre. Gombe will be 30 years next year without an NUJ Press Centre.

“As NUJ national secretary, I have visited every state in Nigeria and Gombe State is one of the three states without such facility.

“I hope that my visit here today will be a sign of good hopes for journalists in Gombe State.

“The governor should move in fast; it is not enough for us to commend him for all the facilities we have seen but journalists do not have a press centre to fall back in.

“Ideally after this inspection we should go back to the press centre and socialise and relax but unfortunately we don’t have.

“I hope Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State will be listening to us and I believe he will do something about that,” he said.
Speaking on the inspected projects, Leman said Gombe State is rapidly becoming a Mega state in view of the facilities and infrastructure being provided in the state.

He particularly commended the effort of Yahaya for initiating and providing five mega schools with good facilities to accommodate more school children, stressing that such move remained key towards addressing the challenge of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria.

He further lauded the progress in reclaiming degraded land in Gombe State through the implementation of ACReSAL Projects in the state.

Leman urged journalists in the state not to renege on their responsibility of holding government accountable to the people.

He, however, cautioned journalists against becoming an opposition to the government, stressing that, journalists’ jobs were not by “being adversarial to the government that we will be doing our jobs; if they (government) do well, commend them and encourage them to do more.”

Also speaking, the NUJ Zonal Vice President for Zone E, Comrade Zare Baba, applauded Yahaya’s administration for maintaining constructive engagement with the media, stressing that such collaboration would enhance transparency while reinforcing public trust.

Mr Faruq Muazu, the Chairman of the NUJ Gombe State Council commended journalists in the state for their professionalism and positive impacts towards the development of the state.

Muazu reaffirmed the union’s resolve to sustain advocacy efforts for the completion of the NUJ Press Centre.

The 2025 Press Week continues on Tuesday with the official opening ceremony and a public lecture, followed by environmental and medical outreach activities later in the week.

New scandal rocks Yobe NSCDC as herder alleges multi-million naira extortion by Agro Rangers Commander

By: Zagazola Makama

A fresh storm is sweeping through the Yobe State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), following explosive allegations by a livestock owner who says senior Agro Ranger officers unlawfully detained, extorted, and converted his animals for personal use.

The victim, Alhaji Ardo Dan Karami, a respected pastoralist from Kumari Village in Damaturu LGA, is accusing Assistant Commandant Ahmed Isa Michika, head of the NSCDC Agro Rangers Unit in Yobe, and his team of perpetrating what he describes as “daylight robbery under the cover of uniform”.

This latest scandal comes barely months after the NSCDC Command in Yobe was mired in a major corruption case involving the escort of vandalised and stolen railway materials, a development that led to the removal of the then State Commandant.

According to a petition filed by Dan Karami through his lawyer, the ordeal began on Oct. 18, 2025, when Agro Rangers personnel stormed his home in his absence and arrested 340 cows and 18 sheep, accusing them of destroying a farm. The animals were transported to Damaturu, but what followed, according to the victim, “was nothing short of criminality”.

The officers allegedly slaughtered one of the sheep claiming it had a fracture but refused to hand over the carcass to its owner. Even more troubling, three cows were reportedly loaded into their official Hilux vehicle, never to be seen again.

Later, one of the missing cows, which was heavily pregnant at the time of arrest, was discovered to have delivered and died in custody at the Damaturu Pilgrims Camp under the NSCDC’s watch. The remaining two cows are still missing. The petition states that before the officers agreed to even “open the case”, they demanded ₦250,000 from the victim.

After admitting to holding the livestock, the officers then compelled the herdsman to pay ₦2,000,000 as “compensation” for alleged farm damage, despite no court process, no assessment, and no verification of the claim.

But the extortion allegedly did not end there.
The officers reportedly charged ₦3,000 per cow as “bail money” for 300 cows, amounting to close to another ₦900,000. In essence, the victim was allegedly forced to pay: 250,000 “case opening fee”,2,000,000 “compensation” and 900,000 “bail fees” for the cows, bringing total alleged extortion to ₦3,150,000.

After these payments, only 340 cows and two sheep were released. However, 15 sheep, one ram, one slaughtered sheep, and two cows remain unaccounted for, animals the victim values at ₦6.25 million.

When senior authorities from Yobe Sate Government confronted Assistant Commandant Michika and his deputy over the matter, they were forced to refund ₦900,000.
But rather than admit the full amount collected, they allegedly claimed they took only ₦800,000, and said they had already spent ₦50,000 from it. Despite being caught in this contradiction, no known disciplinary action has yet been taken.

This is not the first time that the NSCDC Yobe Command has found itself entangled in accusations of corruption and criminal collusion.
On July 8, 2025, troops of Operation Hadin Kai intercepted a truck loaded with vandalised railway iron sleepers along with a shiny NSCDC-marked Hilux van escorting the stolen materials. Inside the vehicle were five NSCDC officers, They were escorting the loot.

A total of ₦128,500 in bribe money was found stuffed inside the inner clothing of one of the officers. The scandal was so damning that it triggered the removal of the State Commandant.

In community pushed to the brink and region still plagued by insecurity, such actions by security personnel could worsen tensions.

Beyond the financial loss and personal trauma, the victim’s lawyer warns that the actions of the NSCDC officers carry serious security implications for Yobe State and the entire North-East.

In the petition, the counsel stressed that incidents of extortion, illegal seizure of livestock, and abuse of pastoral communities are not isolated misdemeanours — they are triggers of insecurity.

“Acts of injustice like this, if not swiftly addressed, are capable of escalating into full-blown security crises,” the petition warned.

The lawyer cited examples from Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and parts of Niger and Kaduna States, where years of unchecked harassment, extortion, illegal arrests, and exploitation of Fulani pastoralists by certain security operatives and local vigilantes eventually contributed to the rise of banditry.

New scandal rocks Yobe NSCDC as herder alleges multi-million naira extortion by Agro Rangers Commander