Gov Inuwa Yahaya Bags Honorary Doctorate From Lincoln University, Malaysia

…Restates Commitment to Global Education Partnership

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has been conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree by Lincoln University College, Malaysia, in recognition of his exemplary leadership, far-reaching developmental reforms and enduring impact on society.

The prestigious honour was bestowed on the Governor during the 18th Convocation Ceremony of the university, held on Monday, January 26, 2026, in Selangor, Malaysia.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya, in his acceptance speech, described the honour as a validation of common ideals rooted in knowledge, service and the power of cross- border partnership.

Drawing parallels between Nigeria and Malaysia, the Governor reflected on the common post-colonial history of both nations and the resilience that has shaped their respective development journeys.

He described Malaysia’s progress into a thriving, multicultural knowledge economy as a source of inspiration for Nigeria’s own development aspirations.

It is within this shared historical and aspirational context, he noted, that the establishment of the Lincoln University College Nigeria Campus in Kumo, Gombe State, finds its significance.

Conceived through a pioneering public-private partnership, the Kumo campus is envisioned as a specialist centre of excellence in medical and allied fields.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed that the institution has since secured foundational accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for transnational operations.

He described Lincoln University as a bridge linking Malaysian innovation with Nigerian aspiration, and a shared past with a collaborative future.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya pledged to personally champion the success of the partnership, including the implementation of plans to sponsor indigenous students from Gombe State at Lincoln University as a direct investment in human capital development.

For Nigerian students, he said, the Nigeria campus offers access to world-class education at home, reducing the burden of overseas study, curbing brain drain and nurturing home-grown talent.

Tracing the collaboration to his administration’s deliberate, data-driven investment in education since assuming office in 2019, the Governor pointed to the construction and renovation of over 2,000 classrooms, the upgrading of five schools into mega centres of excellence, the recruitment of 1,000 qualified teachers and the reintegration of more than 450,000 out-of-school children.

He also cited the establishment of Tsangaya Islamic centres across all 11 local government areas of the state, aimed at harmonising traditional Qur’anic education with modern western learning.

These reforms, according to him, have yielded measurable outcomes, revealing that the percentage of students achieving five credits, including English and Mathematics, in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) rose from 26 per cent in 2019 to 78 per cent in 2022.

Beyond basic education, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said his administration has expanded access to higher education through the establishment of two additional campuses for Gombe State University and a 1,000-capacity School of Nursing and Midwifery.

The Governor was accompanied to the convocation by a high-level delegation, including the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government, senior government officials, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian High Commission in Malaysia, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Malaysia and a former Commissioner for Higher Education.