New VC Mohamed Tahir Tours YSU ….Pledges Improved Welfare for Staff and Students

By: Bodunrin kayode

The new Vice-Chancellor of Yobe State University (YSU), Prof. Muhammad Tahir, has embarked on his first official tour of key facilities within the institution.

He did so recently as a mark of hitting the ground running even as he declared that the happiness and welfare of staff and students will be a top priority of his administration.

Prof. Tahir emphasized during the tour that “staff and students must be happy,” stressing that to him, a conducive working and learning environment is essential for academic excellence.

He noted that his leadership would focus on improving staff welfare, creating a pleasant workplace atmosphere, and enhancing the overall learning conditions for students.

The Vice-Chancellor assured members of the University community that deliberate efforts would be made to upgrade students’ learning environment, including lecture halls, laboratories, and hostel accommodations.

In his view, comfortable and well-maintained hostels are critical to students’ academic performance and well-being as they transit to becoming professionals in their chosen fields of study.

Prof. Tahir also underscored the importance of cleanliness across the University campus, directing that all faculties and units must maintain high standards of hygiene on a daily basis.

The VC described a clean environment as a reflection of discipline, responsibility, and institutional pride which he noted would be the spice of the University community.

On discipline, the Vice-Chancellor made it clear that truancy and absenteeism among staff would not be tolerated. He pledged to instill a culture of commitment and accountability, noting that academic excellence can only thrive where duties are taken seriously.

“We must ensure proper maintenance of our infrastructure and properties. What we have must be preserved and managed responsibly,” he stated, calling for collective ownership in safeguarding university facilities.

The Vice-Chancellor also met with the Director of the University Consultancy Unit, where he stressed the urgent need to boost the institution’s internally generated revenue ( IGR).

Prof Tahir noted that the University must not rely solely on government subvention, emphasizing that innovative and sustainable investment initiatives should be explored for it’s sustainability.

He charged the Consultancy Unit to develop viable business ventures, strengthen partnerships, and expand professional services that would generate income for the University.

To him, increased revenue would enhance infrastructural development, improve staff welfare, and support a more conducive environment for teaching, learning, and research.

Prof. Tahir has so far visited the University Library, Faculty of Sciences, the Desert Research Centre and Career Services, Centre for Qur’anic Studies, Consultancy Unit and Centre for Research and Capacity Development on Humanitarian Development.

At each stop, he interacted with staff, assessed ongoing activities, and listened to concerns and suggestions aimed at improving productivity and service delivery.

The tour marks the beginning of what observers describe as a proactive and reform-driven administration, as the Vice-Chancellor sets the tone for a new era of accountability, welfare improvement, and infrastructural sustainability at YSU.

New VC Mohamed Tahir Tours YSU ….Pledges Improved Welfare for Staff and Students

Reps Panel Applauds NHRC’s 2025 Performance, Signals Support for ₦20bn 2026 Budget

By: Michael Mike

The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has commended the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for what it described as a resilient and impactful performance in 2025, pledging legislative backing for the Commission’s proposed ₦20 billion budget for 2026.

The endorsement came during the Commission’s budget defence before the Committee, where lawmakers acknowledged the NHRC’s efforts to sustain its mandate despite financial constraints and mounting human rights concerns across the country.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Peter Abiola Makinde, praised the Commission for maintaining visibility, transparency and public accountability, particularly through its Human Rights Dashboard, which provides updates on complaints received and actions taken. He noted that at a time of increasing reports of violations affecting fundamental freedoms, the Commission has remained active and responsive.

Makinde stressed that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to strengthen institutions that protect citizens’ rights, assuring the NHRC of continued collaboration and oversight support.

Presenting the Commission’s 2025 performance report, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, revealed that the NHRC recorded more than 3.7 million complaints within the year. He attributed the high number to growing public awareness and confidence in the Commission as an accessible platform for redress.

According to Ojukwu, the surge in complaints highlights the urgent need to strengthen investigative capacity, improve complaint resolution mechanisms, and expand the Commission’s physical presence nationwide.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining institutional independence in line with the Paris Principles, which set global standards for national human rights bodies. To improve access to justice at the grassroots, he disclosed that eight new state offices have been constructed under his leadership, with plans underway to establish 20 additional offices in 2026.

The Executive Secretary also pointed to infrastructure challenges at the Commission’s headquarters, noting that staff numbers have tripled since 2007, making expansion and renovation imperative.

For the 2026 fiscal year, the NHRC is proposing a ₦20 billion budget. Of this amount, 33.67 percent is earmarked for personnel and overhead costs, while 66.33 percent is allocated to capital projects — a distribution Ojukwu said reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize infrastructure, operational expansion and improved service delivery.

In response, members of the Committee indicated readiness to support the proposal, urging the Commission to build on its gains and intensify efforts to safeguard and promote human rights nationwide.

The Committee’s endorsement signals strengthened legislative confidence in the NHRC at a time when public demand for accountability and rights protection continues to grow.

Reps Panel Applauds NHRC’s 2025 Performance, Signals Support for ₦20bn 2026 Budget

Nigeria-China Relations at 55: Dialogue Highlights Achievements, Strategic Opportunities, and Shared Future

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and China marked 55 years of diplomatic relations on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, with a high-level dialogue at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), reflecting on past achievements and exploring opportunities for deeper cooperation across economic, cultural, and strategic sectors.

The event, themed “Nigeria-China at 55 and Beyond”, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, scholars, and private sector leaders. It featured remarks from the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, IPCR Director-General Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, and the Centre for China Studies (CCS), highlighting the significance of the long-standing partnership.

In his welcome address, Dr. Ochogwu described the dialogue as a timely platform to assess the evolution of Nigeria-China relations, which have grown from diplomatic ties to a comprehensive partnership spanning infrastructure, trade, technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

“Partnerships such as Nigeria-China relations must be continually examined through the lens of peace, stability, and sustainable development,” Dr. Ochogwu said. He emphasized that sustainable development and durable peace are inseparable, noting that economic cooperation must be people-centered, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with national and regional stability goals.

Emir Sanusi II reflected on his personal connection to Nigeria-China relations, recalling that his father, Ambassador Aminu Sanusi, served as Nigeria’s first ambassador to China in 1971. He highlighted the strategic importance of deploying experienced diplomats to critical posts, urging policymakers to prioritize long-term national interests over prestige when determining postings.

“Diplomatic deployments must align with national interests, particularly in emerging geopolitical realities,” he said. Sanusi also stressed that while Chinese infrastructure projects are welcome, Nigeria must focus on domestic production and industrialization to fully leverage bilateral cooperation under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Representatives of the Chinese Embassy reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening strategic trust, advancing shared development, strengthening multilateral engagement, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. They cited landmark achievements, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Zungeru Hydropower Station, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline, and railway modernization projects.

“Over 55 years, China and Nigeria have been trusted friends, supporting each other in national development and regional peace,” the Chinese delegation said. Bilateral trade surpassed USD 28 billion in 2025, a year-on-year increase of over 28 percent, while Chinese direct investment reached USD 690 million, up 103 percent from 2024. People-to-people ties, including educational exchanges, Confucius Institutes, and cultural festivals, were also highlighted as key pillars of the relationship.

The Centre for China Studies (CCS) underscored the historical context of the relationship, noting Nigeria’s early support for China’s seat at the United Nations in 1971 and the continued adherence to the One China Policy. CCS Director Charles Onunaiju emphasized that Nigeria is strategically positioned to benefit from China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and called for closer study of China’s governance and economic policies to inform national development strategies.

“Even though Nigeria and China have achieved much over the past 55 years, what lies ahead is even greater,” Onunaiju said, urging policymakers and scholars to focus on structural transformation, industrialization, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The dialogue concluded with calls for strengthened strategic engagement, alignment of development priorities, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainable development, regional stability, and a long-term partnership between the two nations.

Nigeria-China Relations at 55: Dialogue Highlights Achievements, Strategic Opportunities, and Shared Future