By Nidala Muhammad Rabiu In a strategic effort to bridge the gap between local governance and academic institutions, the Execut...
By Nidala Muhammad Rabiu
In a strategic effort to bridge the gap between local governance and academic institutions, the Executive Chairman of Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Pharmacist Abubakar Ibrahim Dembo, has paid a high-level courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor Professor Adamu Ahmed of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the Director of its Distance Learning Centre Professor Muhammad Bashir Mu'azu (DLC).
The visit, which held at the university’s Senate Building, was aimed at strengthening ties between Toro LGA and ABU Zaria, with a focus on expanding educational access, fostering research collaboration, and exploring developmental initiatives that will impact communities at the grassroots.
Addressing the ABU management, Pharm. Dembo praised the institution for its role as a cradle of intellectual excellence and national development, noting that generations of leaders in politics, medicine, engineering, law, and other fields trace their roots to ABU Zaria.
"As a local government, we are determined to place education at the centre of our development agenda. Partnering with ABU, especially through its Distance Learning Centre, will open opportunities for our youth, women, and working-class citizens who may otherwise be excluded from conventional academic programmes,” Dembo said.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabiru Bala, commended the initiative of the Toro LGA Chairman, describing it as forward-thinking and timely. He assured that ABU remains committed to building strong community linkages and will consider areas of collaboration that align with its mandate of producing skilled manpower for the nation.
On his part, the Director of the Distance Learning Centre highlighted the Centre’s contributions to widening access to tertiary education, stressing that it has become a model of flexible learning in Nigeria. He expressed readiness to support Toro LGA in establishing study hubs, scholarship programmes, and digital literacy initiatives.
Education analysts say the visit is particularly significant at a time when Nigeria is grappling with rising school dropouts, limited access to higher education, and the urgent need for skill-based training. By aligning with ABU Zaria, one of Africa’s most reputable universities, Toro LGA could be setting a precedent for how local governments can leverage academic partnerships to accelerate grassroots development.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism about a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will translate discussions into concrete programmes, particularly in the areas of scholarship support, research collaboration, and community-based learning initiatives.
If sustained, the partnership could mark a turning point in Toro LGA’s educational drive, positioning it as a model for other local governments in Bauchi State and beyond.
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