WHY UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, (UNIMAID) HASN’T BEEN SHUT DESPITE TERRORIST ATTACKS — EX-VC

A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, has recounted how the varsity under his watch sought approval to become a temporary centre for Internally Displaced Persons.

Njodi, who is now the Gombe Secretary to the State Government, noted that space for six persons accommodated 15 people due to the number of IDPs, adding that many moved to the varsity for refuge.

He disclosed this on Thursday while delivering a lecture themed, ‘University management in an insurgency ridden environment: Experiences of University of Maiduguri during the Boko Haram uprising (2014-2019)’, at the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State.

Njodi said, “The university sought and was granted a temporary status of an Internally Displaced Persons camp largely because many people moved into the campus for safety. A house for six people was essentially occupied by an average of 15.

“Indeed, the risky and suicidal decisions and policies we took such as not allowing the university to close for even a day helped to stabilise the security situation and served as a clear case of defiance to the devastating ideals of Boko Haram, which is against western education.

” I am today a proud man because the decision and actions we took, risky and dangerous as they were, have given rise to an atmosphere of new thinking in both government and civil society circles as to how best to address the Boko Haram insurgency, secure and restore lasting peace and prosperity in the region.”

According to him, the insurgency evolved from an infamous protest against riders helmet, which led to the death of some riders loyal to Mohammed Yusuf.