The National Economic Council Implementation Monitoring Committee has commended the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) of Yobe State University, describing it as one of the leading biomedical research facilities in Africa.
The committee made the assessment on Friday during a monitoring and evaluation visit to the university, where it inspected the institution’s research facilities, library, lecture theatres, classrooms and other infrastructure.
The delegation, led by the Borno State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Maina Yaumi, expressed surprise at the level of development at the university and pledged to document its findings for consideration by the relevant authorities.
Yaumi singled out the BioRTC for special praise, describing the facility as exceptional and comparable to leading biomedical research centres across the continent.
He said the committee would recommend the centre for presentation to the National Economic Council, noting that greater visibility could attract international researchers, funding, investors and development partners to Yobe State University.
The committee urged the university management to prepare a proposal highlighting the centre’s capabilities and achievements for presentation at the NEC.
Yaumi also called for increased funding for research, stressing that universities should serve not only as centres of learning but also as hubs for scientific research and innovation.
Another committee member, Bala Giade, encouraged the university to intensify efforts to secure external funding and promote its achievements, while Philip Mustafa Ahmed commended the institution for leveraging its comparative advantage in biomedical research.
The committee identified visibility as one of the major challenges facing the university, rather than infrastructure, and urged the institution to showcase its research achievements nationally and internationally.
The committee assured the university that its observations and recommendations would form part of a comprehensive report to the National Economic Council for consideration and possible intervention.
