NOUN Maiduguri Study Centre gets new Director

By A.A Suleiman,

• Dr. Mohammed Yahya has assumed duty as the Director of the National Open Univeristy of Nigeria (NOUN), Maiduguri Study Centre on the 16^th October, 2017. On arrival at the centre, he was received by the Acting Director, Mallam Ibrahim Madugu alongside other staff of the study centre. 

Dr Muhammed Yahaya

In attendance during the handing-over event, was the Vice Chancellor Prof. Uba Abdallah who was represented by the University Librarian Dr. Adam Gambo Saleh. 

In his remarks, the out-going Ag. Director thanked the Vice kChancellor and the University management for giving him the mandate to oversee the management of the centre. Similarly, he thanked the entire staff and students for giving him the required cooperation in steering the day-to-day activities of the centre. He then congratulated the new Director and promised to give him all the necessary support and cooperation in moving the centre to greater heights.

Dr. Mohammed Yahaya, an academic with decades of experience from the Department of English, University of Maiduguri, before assuming this responsibility has managed series of outreach programs of the University in different capacities with a track record of excellent achievements. Dr Yahaya, an industrious academics, is well known for his simplicity and absolute dedication to duty and adherence to the rule of law and ethics of work. 

In his remarks, Dr. Yahaya thanked the University Management for considering him worthy of taking up this task, and he sees this as a challenge. He promised to do his level best in moving the centre forward with dedication and commitment. He said, with all sense of humility he is not only equal to the task but he has become a NOUN ambassador. 

He solicited the support and cooperation of the entire staff because he believes ‘’we are more stronger together’’, he further added that using his knowledge of literature; in the African tradition, we respect our source of livelihood and nourishment, thus we cannot afford to play with our work- we must respect NOUN because it is the source of our livelihood. He stated that we must therefore do everything within our means in making sure that the source of our livelihood attains its desired pinnacle. Dr. Yahaya further emphasized that, he is as open as the university, he is straight-forward and believes in team work and efficient communication for maximum productivity. Team wok according to him, instils the spirit of unity and brotherhood. He said only if we can communicate freely and properly, we will understand each other more and unequivocally respect and appreciate our differences. 

Yahaya also said, Borno state and its people have suffered a lot as a result of insurgency but with the glory and mercy of God, Borno state is recuperating and reviving quick. In this era of post-insurgency, we must consolidate our gains and benefit maximally from the reconstruction and reintegration phase. Therefore, this is the right time NOUN will be coming in to take off the large number of youth on street, and this can only be done through constant and continuous advocacy to opinion leader and stakeholders.

Speaking at the occasion, the representative of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Adam Saleh Gambo said NOUN has its operational tentacles spread across Nigeria. It is strategically positioned to contribute its quota in national development in general and the reconstruction efforts of the Federal Government particularly in the North East sub-region. He congratulated the new Director and urged him to put to use his decades of excellent service in the University system for the benefit of the centre. 

Dr. Adam called both the new director and the entire staff to be loyal and dedicated to the system. They must do all that it takes to move the centre forward. He added that, this can only be done through an increase in the enrolment of students. He disclosed that centres with lesser students are more of parasites to centres with higher enrolments, because the ones with lesser number are more of enjoying the hard work of others. 

He observed that the administration of Prof. Uba Abdallah Adamu is committed to providing all the desired needs of a hardworking study centre and this invariably cannot be done at the expense of other hard working centres. He finally said the analogy is simple, increase your enrolment through advocacy and gain more attention and prominence from the management.

The out-going Ag Director, Mal. Ibrahim Madugu took the new Director alongside the representative of the Vice chancellor round all units and departments and as well handed to him all assets belonging to the institution.

Dr M. Yahaya

Speaking on behalf of other administrative staff, Mal. Mukthar Mohammed, administrative officer of the centre said the entire staff and respective units head have warmly welcomed and congratulated the Director on his new assignment. They further promised to give him their maximum loyalty and support in running the affairs of the centre.