Yobe State University Welcomes 2,240 New Students, Highlights Entrepreneurial Focus
Yobe State University (YSU) has officially matriculated a total of 2,240 students for the 2025/2026 academic session, with a strong emphasis on fostering innovative entrepreneurial skills as a key strategy to address unemployment and poverty in the state. The matriculation ceremony, held on Wednesday at the university's main campus in Damaturu, saw students from seven faculties and the College of Medical Sciences (CoMS) take their oaths, while also receiving stern warnings against indiscipline and misconduct both on and off campus.
Vice-Chancellor Advocates for Private Sector Shift
In his address to the matriculating students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Bashir Tahir, highlighted a strategic shift in job creation, moving away from overreliance on the public sector towards a more organized private sector in Nigeria. He explained that the university is intensifying efforts within its available resources to equip students with the necessary skills for entrepreneurship. "Your various disciplines are designed to prepare you for self-employment and success in the private sector of the state economy," Prof. Tahir stated. "Our aim is not just to prepare them for government jobs. We want to train admitted students who can create employment or seamlessly integrate into innovative private enterprise."
Commendation for NELFUND and Warnings Against Misconduct
Prof. Tahir also commended the Federal Government's Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a crucial support system for students facing financial challenges. However, he issued clear warnings against examination malpractice and drug abuse, emphasizing that offenders would face strict disciplinary action. The University Registrar, Alhaji Isa Audu Dallari, congratulated the new students and urged them to adhere strictly to institutional rules and regulations. Similarly, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Sani Isah, advised the fresh students to balance academics with co-curricular activities, while cautioning against excessive use of social media and other distractions that could negatively impact their studies.
Breakdown of Student Admissions by Faculty
The admissions breakdown for the 2025/2026 session reveals the following distribution across faculties:
- Faculty of Sciences: 935 students (highest intake)
- Social and Management Sciences: 525 students
- College of Medical Sciences: 465 students
- Education: 121 students
- Arts: 74 students
- Law: 67 students
- Agriculture: 53 students
This diverse intake underscores the university's commitment to providing education across a wide range of disciplines, with a particular focus on preparing students for entrepreneurial success in the evolving economic landscape of Yobe State and Nigeria at large.
