FUGA Begins Five-Year Strategic Planning Retreat, Targets Digital Transformation and Sustainable Growth

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu

The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Gashua, Professor Yaqub Ahmed Geidam, has reaffirmed the institution’s determination to embrace innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development as the university commenced a three-day retreat to develop its 2026–2031 strategic plan.

The retreat, involving major stakeholders from the university community, aims to produce a comprehensive blueprint to guide the institution’s academic, administrative, and infrastructural development over the next five years.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Adamu Saleh, Head of Information and Public Relations of the university, and made available to journalists in Damaturu on Thursday.

Participants at the retreat include members of the university council, the management team, deans, directors, heads of departments, labour unions, students, and representatives of Flexisaf Edusoft Consult.

Speaking during the opening session, Professor Geidam described the exercise as a critical step toward shaping the future direction of the university.

According to him, the retreat represents a foundation for defining the institution’s priorities, strengthening its identity, and positioning it for greater relevance in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that since assuming office on February 11, 2026, he had embarked on extensive consultations and assessments involving stakeholders, institutional structures, and available resources to better understand the university’s needs and opportunities.

He noted that initiating the strategic planning process within his first 100 days in office was intentional and aimed at providing a clear roadmap for sustainable progress.

Professor Geidam said the university occupies a strategic position in advancing access to quality education while also addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges affecting communities within the Sahel region.

He identified several priority areas expected to shape the new development framework, including the introduction of market-driven academic programmes such as biotechnology, cyber security, information technology, software engineering, entrepreneurship, and Islamic banking and finance.

The Vice-Chancellor also stressed the importance of expanding student enrolment in a structured manner supported by improved infrastructure and enhanced welfare services.

On digital transformation, he emphasised the university’s commitment to modern learning systems through blended learning approaches and the adoption of advanced learning management systems.

Environmental sustainability also featured prominently in his remarks, with Professor Geidam highlighting the institution’s FUGA Green Code initiative as a vital component of its long-term vision due to the university’s location within an ecologically vulnerable environment.

He further called for a results-orientated implementation framework backed by measurable performance indicators, monitoring systems, and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective execution of the strategic objectives.

Professor Geidam stressed the importance of inclusiveness in the planning process, maintaining that the success of the strategic plan would depend largely on how well it reflects the collective aspirations of stakeholders across the university community.

The retreat also attracted several prominent academics and experts, including J. D. Amin, Aliyu Suleiman Kantudu, Mohammed D. Madawaki, Mustapha Bala Abubakar, Halima Idrisa Gambo, Fatima Alfa Tahir, and Hamidu Usman.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism that the contributions of the participants and resource persons would help produce a practical, forward-looking, and globally competitive strategic document capable of transforming the university.

He urged all participants to contribute meaningfully and approach the assignment with commitment and a shared vision for the institution’s future.

At the conclusion of the retreat, the university is expected to unveil a consensus-driven strategic plan designed to position Federal University Gashua as a leading institution for academic excellence, innovation, and sustainability in Nigeria and beyond.

NWUS Breaks New Ground as NUC Grants Full Accreditation to Key Programmes

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Northwest University Sokoto has recorded a major academic milestone, securing full accreditation for most of its academic programmes following a comprehensive assessment by the National Universities Commission.

Vice-Chancellor,  Mukhtar Umar Bunza disclosed the development on Tuesday during a press briefing at the institution’s Senate Chambers, describing it as a defining moment in the university’s growth and commitment to quality education.

He attributed the success to the unwavering dedication of staff and students, alongside the strategic leadership of the Governing Council and the institution’s Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the accreditation exercise conducted by the NUC in the last quarter of 2025 resulted in full five-year accreditation across several departments.

In the Computing and Science faculty, all evaluated programmes—Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, and Software Engineering—secured full accreditation, reinforcing the university’s growing reputation in technology-driven education.

Within the Social and Management Sciences, Accounting and Public Administration earned full accreditation status, while Business Administration received interim accreditation.

The Faculty of Education also recorded success, with Special Education and Library and Information Science programmes gaining full approval.

Similarly, in the General Social  Sciences, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology were all granted full accreditation status.

Prof. Bunza noted that the interim accreditation granted to the Business  Administration programme should not be seen as a setback but rather as a structured opportunity for improvement.

He explained that the status provides clear guidance on areas requiring enhancement ahead of the next review, adding that the faculty has already begun implementing necessary adjustments.

The vice-chancellor commended the leadership of the NUC under Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu for what he described as a transparent and supportive accreditation process.

He reaffirmed the university’s resolve to strengthen its academic infrastructure, improve teaching standards, and sustain a culture of excellence.

“With this achievement, we are steadily building a center of learning that not only meets national standards but also competes globally,” he said.

The university expects the accreditation success to boost its profile, attract more students, and enhance confidence in the quality of its academic offerings.

N2m Up for Grabs as TY Buratai Literary Initiative Rolls Out 2026 Activities

By Jamila Muhammad, Gombe

The Chairman of the TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI), Dr Elizabeth Ben-Iheanacho, has unveiled an expanded plan for the organisation’s 2026 programmes, announcing an increase in its headline literary prize to N2 million.

She made the disclosure on Wednesday during a press briefing at the City Library in Abuja, where she reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to strengthening reading culture among young Nigerians through strategic educational and literary interventions.

Ben-Iheanacho noted that TYBLI, founded by Tukur Yusuf Buratai, continues to focus on literacy development, youth empowerment, and the advancement of Young Adult Literature (YAL) as a platform for building values, creativity, and critical thinking among teenagers.

According to her, the 2026 agenda is aimed at consolidating achievements recorded since the initiative’s launch in 2024, particularly in widening access to books and nurturing emerging literary talents.

“We are leveraging the successes of the past two years to expand our footprint and deepen our engagement with schools and literary communities nationwide,” she said.

She identified three major pillars driving TYBLI’s interventions: the introduction of mobile “Book Boxes” in secondary schools, recognition of pioneers in Young Adult Literature, and the Young Adult Literature Prize designed to discover and reward new voices.

So far, eight Book Boxes have been installed in schools across the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states, with plans underway to extend the programme to more schools in 2026.

The initiative has also honoured notable literary figures, including Cyprian Ekwensi in 2024 and Mohammed Sule in 2025, for their contributions to the development of youth literature in Nigeria.

Ben-Iheanacho disclosed that participation in the TYBLI literary prize has continued to grow, with entries increasing from 51 in 2024 to 101 in 2025, reflecting rising interest among young writers.

“As part of our efforts to further inspire creativity, we have increased the grand prize for the national winner to N2 million, up from N1.5 million last year,” she said.

She added that an anthology featuring the top entries from the 2024 edition has been published and is currently being distributed to tertiary institutions across the country to support teaching and research in literary studies.

Providing details of the 2026 schedule, she said entries for the Young Adult Literature Prize will open in May, while additional Book Boxes will be deployed in June. The longlist of zonal winners will be released in September, followed by the shortlist on October 1, with the final awards ceremony slated for October 31.

She thanked partners and stakeholders for their continued support, calling for sustained collaboration to advance the initiative’s goal of raising a new generation of readers and writers.

In recent years, TYBLI has continued to gain recognition as an emerging platform for youth-centred literary development, complementing broader national efforts to promote education and creative expression.