VC explains UNIMAID’s strategy for tackling insecurity in Borno State, environs

*The University of Maiduguri, in Borno State of Nigeria, has launched a research and innovative programme to develop devices to tackle insecurity challenges, especially on the campus

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), in Borno State, North-East region of the country, has evolved an innovative idea to curb the devastating effects of incessant security challenges in the state and environs.

Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, Vice-Chancellor of the University, disclosed that the institution recently activated a research and innovative programme to develop devices for tackling insecurity problems, especially on the UNIMAID campus.

Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, Vice-Chancellor of UNIMAID (left), during his visit to NAN, in Abuja  Photo: NAN

The Vice-Chancellor stated this development when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria forum in Abuja, FCT.

Prof. Shugaba said the tertiary institution brought the innovative idea, following the devastating effects of insecurity in Borno State and its environs.

The University is working with some relevant stakeholders in the area of research and development to provide an enabling environment for effective academic activities in the institution, he noted.

The Vice-Chancellor also stated: “In recent years, we have started recording success in research; we have recorded about five patents and we have breakthrough in registering the patents.

“We are now looking at the commercialisation of them.”

According to him, one of the patents was in veterinary medicine, a kind of ointment that could be applied for the treatment of some animal diseases.

“The other one is in the area of telescope that will allow someone to view certain things from a far distance. Another one was in the area of engineering.’’

Meanwhile, Shugaba has said that the University of Maiduguri received some awards as a result of the institution’s achievements in research, report stated.

In respect of such incentives, the UNIMAID Vice-Chancellor said that there were no specific incentives to motivate the staff to work except “the visiting lecturers whom the University gives 75 percent of their salary.’’

He, however, said despite the security challenges, people were still taking up jobs in the North-East region of the country except those that were not from the region.

Shugaba described Maiduguri is the safest place in the country irrespective of the security challenges.

Shugaba said that all the programmes in the University had got full accreditation from National Universities Commission (NUC) except “Civil and Water Resources Engineering”.

“But we are trying to remedy it, we have put in enough resources; we have injected about N200 million through the appropriation budget and the Borno State government has also injected some facilities,” he stated.

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