Public universities in Nigeria’s insurgency-affected regions have urged the federal government to extend special allocations under the Needs Assessment Intervention Funds to help them recover from years of disruption.
The appeal was re-echoed by Bukar Jamri, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yobe State University (YSU), Damaturu. During a visit by the Implementation Monitoring Committee on the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities on Monday.
Mr. Jamri explained that additional federal intervention would not only accelerate recovery but also strengthen the human capital needed for national rebuilding.
Bridging State Efforts with Federal Support
While acknowledging the heavy investments already made by state governments in infrastructure and equipment, Mr. Jamri stressed that such efforts require federal augmentation.
“By supporting these universities, the federal government can help address the peculiar challenges they face and promote quality education in the region,” the vice-chancellor said.
He further assured that:
“The university would continue to do its best in improving the quality of research, teaching, and learning in the institution.”
Oversight and Accountability in Implementation
Committee leader Emmanuel Osodeke said the team was at YSU to monitor the implementation of the Needs Assessment Intervention Fund.
He praised the level of infrastructure already provided but cautioned that proper mechanisms must be in place for sustainability.
Mr. Osodeke also urged the institution’s Budget Monitoring Committee to provide an “effective advisory role in the implementation.” He emphasised that the fund resulted from negotiations between university unions and the federal government to improve the quality of tertiary education.
The monitoring committee included representative from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
Significance of This Appeal
Universities in Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, and other parts of the North-East have endured years of severe disruption due to the Boko Haram insurgency. Both federal and state universities have been affected, with institutions like the Federal University of Technology, Yola, and Yobe State University repeatedly cited as needing urgent intervention. In Yobe alone, the government has estimated that over ₦25 billion is required to revitalize education across the state, despite ongoing investments in rehabilitation, textbooks, and equipment.
Education unions have repeatedly warned that without targeted federal support, public institutions in conflict zones risk deeper decline. Which will threaten their ability to produce the skilled manpower needed for rebuilding and national development.
Conclusion
The plea from public universities in insurgency-affected regions is not just a call for money; it is a call for vision. Should Nigeria wait until every battle is won before rebuilding classrooms, or should it use education itself as a weapon against the ideology of terror?
If support is delayed, insurgents achieve their goal of silencing schools. But if government responds now — with targeted funding, stronger security, and resilient learning models — it sends a message that knowledge, not fear, will shape the future of the North-East.
Yes, what is built today may face new threats. Yet what is not built today risks leaving behind a lost generation. Bricks can be replaced; time cannot.
This is why the call from Yobe and other public universities must not be ignored. Federal intervention is not just about repairing buildings — it is about defending hope, protecting talent, and proving that Nigeria’s future will not be dictated by terror.