The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) celebrated its 50th Golden Jubilee on Saturday with fundraising reaching N3.8 billion in donations for its Endowment Fund.
The event, graced by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also featured Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum’s, who announced the introduction of 220 scholarships for lecturers of the University.
The gathering, aimed at relaunching the university’s Endowment Fund to bridge funding gaps and enhance research, successfully realised over N4 billion in total commitments from private philanthropists, state governments, and the federal government.
The event served as a platform for government and private sector figures to reaffirm their commitment to the university, which has stood as a beacon of resilience despite years of insurgency in the North East.
Governor Zulum, an alumnus and former staff member, announced a scholarship for 220 lecturers to pursue their PhDs. Of this number, 100 will study abroad, while 120 will study in Nigerian universities.
I wish to announce the scholarship to 220 lecturers of University of Maiduguri to pursue their doctorate degree. Out of the number, 100 will have the opportunity to study abroad, while 120 will study in universities within Nigeria – Governor Zulum
Renowned businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi (Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources), donated N2 billion. While the North East Governors’ Forum collectively donated N1.8 billion.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima restates the agenda of the Tinubu administration on investment in education, stating that the N3.5 trillion allocated to the sector in the 2025 budget is to properly put Nigeria in the global knowledge economy. The VP described education as the immune system of the nation.
The successful fundraising and commitment to academic capacity building are pivotal for UNIMAID to overcome the infrastructural and research deficits created by years of insurgency in the region. The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Mele, called for private sectors to collaboration to complement government funding and ensure the institution’s long-term financial stability and global competitiveness.
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