The Yobe State government has awarded overseas scholarships to 16 lecturers of the state’s University to pursue postgraduate studies aimed at improving medical education and strengthening academic capacity.
The sponsorship, approved by Governor Mai Buni, is designed to support the lecturers’ advanced training and help the university meet professional accreditation requirements for its medical programmes.
Vice-Chancellor of Yobe State University, Prof. Muhammad Tahir, said the initiative would enhance the institution’s College of Medical Sciences by developing more qualified academic personnel in critical medical disciplines.
Prof. Tahir disclosed the development on Thursday through a statement issued by the Information Officer at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Abdulmumin Gulani.
According to him, the beneficiaries will undertake master’s degree programmes with opportunities to advance to doctoral studies in areas including Human Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Biochemistry and Medical Microbiology.
Prof. Tahir explained that the specialised training would address existing manpower gaps within the medical college while boosting teaching standards, research output and innovation.
“The sponsorship will significantly improve the quality of academic manpower available to the College of Medical Sciences and strengthen our ability to produce competent medical professionals,” he said.
He added that the move was part of efforts to satisfy the requirements of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for the university’s medical programmes.
The vice-chancellor further disclosed that the first group of sponsored lecturers had commenced their academic journey at Integral University, Lucknow, India.
He said the university delegation also explored wider partnerships with the Indian institution, including possible collaborations in agriculture, engineering and technology through exchange programmes, joint research initiatives and curriculum development.
Prof. Tahir praised Governor Buni for prioritising investments in education and healthcare, describing the scholarship programme as a strategic step towards building sustainable human capital in the state.
“The administration’s commitment to education and health development will have lasting impacts on the university and the broader healthcare system in Yobe State,” he added.
The scholarship beneficiaries are expected to return with advanced expertise that will contribute to strengthening medical training and improving the university’s capacity to produce healthcare professionals.