GOV. AHMAD ALIYU RECORDS MAJOR GAINS IN HIGHER EDUCATION – PROF. MAISHANU
GOV. AHMAD ALIYU RECORDS MAJOR GAINS IN HIGHER EDUCATION – PROF. MAISHANU 
From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has recorded significant achievements in the higher education sector from the inception of the administration of Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto to date.
This was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Isa Muhammad Maishanu, in a speech delivered on Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 on the achievements of the administration in the sector.
Maishanu said the achievements reflect the commitment of the administration to its 9-Point SMART Agenda, particularly in strengthening educational infrastructure, improving staff welfare, expanding access to tertiary education, promoting academic excellence and creating an enabling environment for teaching, learning and research.
On infrastructural development, he listed completed projects to include repairs of structural defects caused by rainstorms at Sokoto State University, completion of the university’s perimeter fence, rehabilitation of students’ hostels at Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, beautification and landscaping of the institution, renovation of 25 housing units, repairs of defects at Shehu Shagari College of Education, construction of 275 metres drainage, rehabilitation of six hostel blocks, renovation of Geography Department after fire incident and construction of VIP latrines.
He added that at Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko College of Technology and Advanced Studies, government reconstructed part of the northern perimeter wall, re-roofed male and female hostels damaged by windstorm and rehabilitated the Central Mosque.
The Commissioner said ongoing projects include renovation of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and five staff quarters at Sokoto State University, construction of sports complex and modern convocation arena, construction of 500-seat auditorium at Wamakko College, renovation of hostels, upgrading of clinic to Primary Health Care facility and construction of two-storey administrative block, as well as renovation of Central Mosque at Shehu Shagari College of Education.
On financial interventions and staff welfare, Maishanu said government restored cash allocation to Sokoto State University, paid outstanding sabbatical and visiting lecturers’ allowances, restored third-party deductions, initiated payment of Earned Academic Allowances, approved 25% and 35% salary increments for tertiary institution staff and approved 40% salary increment for academic staff of Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education in line with FGN/ASUU agreement of December 2025, making Sokoto the first state in the North-West to implement it effective June 2026.
On accreditation and academic programmes, he said government supported NUC accreditation and resource verification for ten postgraduate programmes at Sokoto State University, supported accreditation of 20 undergraduate programmes affiliated to Usmanu Danfodiyo University and Ahmadu Bello University at Shehu Shagari University of Education, paid affiliation fees and provided library furniture and learning materials.
He disclosed that approval was secured for establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Yabo, with payment of compensation for land ongoing, while the Executive Council approved dual-mandate reform for Shehu Shagari College of Education to award both NCE and degrees, with the bill passing second reading at the State House of Assembly.
The Commissioner also said government approved upgrading and change of name of State College of Basic and Remedial Studies to Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko College of Technology and Advanced Studies to broaden its mandate to diploma programmes.
On students’ access to education, he said in 2025 government purchased 16,000 JAMB and Direct Entry forms for indigenes with training and feeding, supported WAEC, NECO and NABTEB registration, supplied textbooks to tertiary institutions and facilitated payment of registration fees and transportation for French students to French Village in Badagry.
On scholarships, Maishanu said through partnership with Qatar Charity Foundation, scholarship and financial assistance were secured for 81 indigent students of the state.
He added that government provided financial support for conferences at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, donated N40 million during its convocation, supported educational development at ABU Zaria, Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
On international engagement, he said government sponsored the Commissioner to conferences in Istanbul, Turkey and Cape Town, South Africa and engaged EU, India, Algeria and Muslim World League for academic cooperation.
He listed other interventions to include payment of IJMB examination expenses, resource visits for six new ND programmes at Wamakko College, rehabilitation of library and e-library, provision of kitchen for training of forest guards, installation of solar power system at the Ministry, procurement of office furniture, engagement of Jedo Security personnel with N10 million monthly expenditure for state tertiary institutions, renovation of library headquarters including mosque, borehole, toilets and solar lights, renovation of Illela E-Branch Library, supervision of ten e-branch libraries and restoration and increase of monthly cash allocation to Library Services from N200,000 to N500,000.
Maishanu expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto for his commitment to higher education and commended management and staff of tertiary institutions and the Ministry for their dedication.
He assured that the Ministry will continue to prioritize completion of ongoing projects, sustained funding, accreditation, staff welfare, scholarships, technical and vocational education, library development, security and partnerships for sustainable development of higher education in the state.
