Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, on Thursday inaugurated the permanent site of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University, Damaturu, describing the facility as a major step towards strengthening medical research and innovation in the state.
The governor said the state government invested over N800 million in the construction of the centre, which is designed to build capacity in biomedical sciences, support advanced research, and address gaps in Africa’s medical research ecosystem.
“Africa has relied for too long on medical research conducted in different climates, environments, cultures, and lifestyles, often without adequate consideration for our peculiarities and genetic diversity,” Buni said. He added that the facility would promote research that is accurate, inclusive, and tailored to African health challenges.
Buni also disclosed plans to establish an additional dialysis centre in Gashua before the end of the year, saying it would ease the burden of travel for kidney patients in the area. “We have continued to support dialysis services, and the new centre in Gashua will reduce the hardship of long-distance travel for patients,” he said.
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The governor further highlighted BioRTC’s training programmes, noting that more than 1,000 participants from Yobe State, other parts of Nigeria, and across Africa had benefited from summer schools and workshops fully funded by the state government.
At the event, Buni announced a N30 million cash award and full government scholarships for three Yobe indigenes — Nafisa Abdullahi, Hadiza Kashim Kalli, and Rukayya Mohammed Fema — who emerged winners at the TeenEagle 2025 competition held in London, United Kingdom. Each student received N10 million and a scholarship up to tertiary level. “Their success reflects our sustained investment in education and human capital development,” he said. The state currently spends over N2.6 billion annually on scholarships for 890 students at Nigerian Tulip International College, including the three TeenEagle champions.
Founder and Director of BioRTC, Prof. Mahmoud Bukar Maina, said the centre had attracted equipment donations worth over N10 billion, providing a strong foundation for advanced research. Prof. Amadi O. Ihunwo of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa added that the centre is equipped with facilities for advanced cellular, molecular, and neuroscience research rarely found in many African universities.