Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, has attended the 20th Inaugural Lecture of Gombe State University delivered by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sani Ahmed Yauta. The event, held at the Haruna Rasheed Hall, featured a strong delegation of top government officials led by the Deputy Governor.
Dr. Jatau emphasised the need for serious commitment to educational funding, noting that the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya places high priority on education. He said their presence at the lecture was a demonstration of the government’s support for academic development in the state.
Reflecting on the lecture titled “Perspective of an Educational Administrator on the Three-Legged Stool: Rethinking the Funding of University Education in Nigeria,” the Deputy Governor expressed concern over the challenges of financing education in a society battling widespread poverty.
“As a student of sociology, I appreciate the crucial role of education in social mobility. Education remains the easiest pathway for individuals to ascend the social ladder,” he said.
Dr. Jatau shared personal experiences on the difficulty students face in paying school fees, recalling an instance when an appeal for installment payments was turned down by a university administrator. He emphasised the reality of the concerns raised in the lecture but questioned whether corruption might not hinder the success of proposed reforms, including increased taxation.
He advised universities to explore business investments and channel proceeds into scholarship schemes to assist financially disadvantaged students. He also conveyed the goodwill of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and congratulated Prof. Yauta on a well-researched and impactful lecture.
In his presentation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Sani Ahmed Yauta described the “three-legged stool” as representing government, parents/students, and the private sector—including industries and alumni. He argued that university education should be funded through a cost-sharing model, as it provides both public and private benefits.
He highlighted global best practices, economic analysis, and findings from his various studies, stressing that education is too vital to be left to a single stakeholder but must be supported through multi-sectoral collaboration.
Earlier, Chairman of the Inaugural Lecture Committee, Prof. Umaru Gurama Dukku, described the 20th lecture as historic, being delivered by the serving Vice Chancellor, the second from the Faculty of Education, and the third from the Department of Educational Foundations. He noted that inaugural lectures are a global academic tradition that allow professors to present their scholarly contributions.
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) praised Prof. Yauta for attaining the peak of academic excellence. He appreciated the Gombe State Government for its sustained support, describing the university as fortunate, and reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and community service.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Honourable Commissioners and Special Advisers as well as Heads of Security Agencies accompanied the Deputy Governor.
