News
German Academic Exchange Service Opens in Accra for West Africa
German Academic Exchange Service Opens in Accra for West Africa
By: Michael Mike
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is expanding its international network in West Africa by opening a
regional office in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
According to a statement, the DAAD regional office in Accra, has recently started work. It was initially responsible for Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, as it is
strengthening its network in an important region for Germany and Europe.
“By 2050, the share of African countries in the global population will rise to an
estimated 25 per cent. The number of students and doctoral candidates in
West Africa will also increase in the medium term. The universities and scientific institutions in Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria are already important partners for German universities and their importance will continue to grow. With the new regional office, we are strengthening these links in a region that is important for Germany and Europe.” explained DAAD President Prof.
Joybrato Mukherjee on site in Accra.
He added that: “As the DAAD, we are also deliberately expanding the network of German foreign science policy in West Africa, also with a view to the neighbouring Sahel zone and the associated challenging
geopolitical situation. Science diplomacy and the science cooperation area
are making resilient and important contributions to German security in these
crisis-ridden times. Science is a ‘hard currency’ in foreign and security policy,
and we are delighted to be able to expand our presence in West Africa with
the support of the Federal Foreign Office.”
,” said Mukherjee.
DAAD in Ghana
Since establishing its presence in Ghana in 2000, the German Academic
Exchange Service (DAAD) has actively supported the remarkable growth of
academic exchange and collaboration with Germany. Germany is now the
third most popular study destination for Ghanaian students and the number
of DAAD’s scholarships for Ghanaians have increased more than tenfold in the
last 25 years. Over the past decade, institutional collaborations between
DAAD Germany and Ghana have nearly tripled and the flourishing network of
students, researchers, and alumni between the two countries stands as a testament to this success.
The new regional office – one of only two in sub-Saharan Africa – demonstrates the continuing growth of West African countries as partners of Germany and the DAAD.
They offer great potential for academic exchange and scientific cooperation with Germany: an estimated 2.5 million young people are currently studying in Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. The number of
exchanges with Germany has also risen continuously in recent years. Around
13,500 students from the three countries are currently enrolled at universities
in Germany.
In addition, German universities are showing a growing interest in cooperation, with around 130 partnerships already in place with Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.
Until now, however, German universities have lacked a central contact point on site for the establishment and expansion of networks and collaborations. The new regional office in Accra enables the DAAD to advise students and researchers locally, to present Germany as an attractive centre
of science in the region and to facilitate access to knowledge and contacts in
the countries for German universities.
Students and researchers interested in making inquiries, attending information events, or booking individual consultations can contact the DAAD Regional Office in Ghana.
German Academic Exchange Service Opens in Accra for West Africa
Fourteen Abducted Victims Released in Maru, Zamfara State; Two Killed in Captivity
By: Zagazola Makama
Fourteen victims abducted in December 2025, including six family members of Inspector Hussaini Abubakar of Maru Police Division, have been released by their captors.
Zagazola reliably gathered that the release occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2026. Unfortunately, two of the victims, identified as Bashir Marafa, aged 45, and Halliru Kabiru, aged 50, were killed while in captivity.
Sources added that a pregnant woman among the abductees delivered a baby girl while in captivity. The victims are currently receiving medical attention at the General Hospital, Maru.
Fourteen Abducted Victims Released in Maru, Zamfara State; Two Killed in Captivity
Two Abducted Victims Rescued in Tsafe, Zamfara; One Killed in Bandit Attack at Talata Mafara
By: Zagazola Makama
Two persons abducted earlier this month in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been rescued, while a separate bandit attack in Talata Mafara LGA left one person dead and others missing.
Sources confirmed that Bashir Adamu Iyatawa, 42, and Kenneth Allahmagani, 35, both from Zaria City, Kaduna State, were abducted at Unguwar Chida Village in Tsafe on Feb. 16, 2026.
They were rescued on Feb. 26, debriefed, and later taken to a hospital for medical attention before being handed over to their relatives.
In a separate incident, armed bandits loyal to a local bandit leader, Na Sanda, attacked the outskirts of Jangebe town in Talata Mafara LGA on Feb. 27 at about 2:00 a.m.
The attack resulted in the death of Misbawu Aminu, 30, and the abduction of an unspecified number of persons to an undisclosed location.
Joint troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and local vigilante groups are reported to be pursuing the fleeing bandits. Authorities have assured that efforts to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the culprits are ongoing.
Two Abducted Victims Rescued in Tsafe, Zamfara; One Killed in Bandit Attack at Talata Mafara
Boko Haram Attack on CJTF Leaves One Dead in Gwoza, Borno state
By: Zagazola Makama
One member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was killed following an ambush by suspected ISWAP terrorists along the Warave–Gwoza Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources said the incident occurred on February 25 at about 7:30 a.m. when gunmen attacked members of the CJTF and hunters on routine patrol. Fifty-year-old Bello Adamu, a member of the CJTF, was fatally injured in the attack.
Army troops of Operation HADIN KAI, Police Tactical Units, and CJTF personnel visited the scene, documented the incident, and evacuated the victim to Gwoza General Hospital, where he was certified dead on arrival. His body was released to his family for burial according to Islamic rites.
Monitoring of the area continues to prevent further attacks.
Boko Haram Attack on CJTF Leaves One Dead in Gwoza, Borno state
Fourteen Abducted Victims Released in Maru, Zamfara State; Two Killed in Captivity
Two Abducted Victims Rescued in Tsafe, Zamfara; One Killed in Bandit Attack at Talata Mafara
Boko Haram Attack on CJTF Leaves One Dead in Gwoza, Borno state
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