ASR Africa Initiative Assesses UNIMAID Innovation Centre, Partners on AI Training for Students

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) during a monitoring visit to the University's Innovation Centre, a state-of-the-art facility previously donated by the foundation.

Receiving the foundation's delegation in his office on Thursday, 16 July 2026, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Laminu Mele, formally welcomed the team and commended the foundation for its unwavering support for education. He urged the delegation to thoroughly assess the Centre to ensure it is being effectively utilized to achieve its intended purpose.

Professor Mele specifically applauded the foundation's initiative to provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) training for selected students of the University, describing it as a timely and critical intervention in today's technology-driven world. Reaffirming the University's dedication to promoting entrepreneurship, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that the institution remains fully prepared to partner with the foundation to expand opportunities that empower young people with practical digital skills.

Earlier in his remarks, the representative of the Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Foundation, Mr. Nakama Keri, noted that the UNIMAID Innovation Centre is one of the key projects funded by the foundation under its educational support program.

According to Mr. Keri, the primary purpose of the visit was to assess the current state of the facility, evaluate how effectively the University has utilized the Centre, and gather accurate findings to present to the foundation's Board. He explained that the assessment would also help identify specific areas where the foundation could provide additional support to strengthen the Centre and further deepen its strategic partnership with the University of Maiduguri.