Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved ₦1 billion for immediate take-off of the newly-established Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship, Bama.
Zulum announced the approval on Tuesday while receiving an inter-ministerial delegation on an assessment visit to the Government House, Maiduguri.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation comprised officials from Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), Budget Office and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
NAN also reports that the university was established following the signing into law of a bill sponsored by Sen. Kaka Lawan on May 22.
Zulum recalled that the state government had earlier handed over the Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology, Bama, to the Federal Government to fast-track commencement of academic activities.
“I want to announce the donation of ₦1 billion for the take-off of the university,” the governor said.
He directed the commissioner for education to facilitate the process and identify immediate priority areas and gaps to channel the resources.
Zulum said that the state must provide the enabling environment for the federal institution to start smoothly, adding that the services to be rendered would largely benefit the people of Borno.
“Although the institution belongs to the federal government, the services that will be rendered is for the good people of Borno State.
“For me, every federal institution, especially the tertiary institutions, belongs to Borno State government,” he said.
The governor also pledged to construct staff quarters and provide additional support to the new institution.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Sen. Kaka Lawan, and the minister of education for ensuring the actualisation of the university.
Earlier, Hajiya Rakiya Iliyasu, Leader of the delegation and Director of University Education at the ministry of education, said that the team was impressed with the facilities inspected in Bama.
“Your Excellency, the team went round the institution this morning and what we saw was quite encouraging.
“We can tell His Excellency that the institution has everything it needs to take off,” she said.
Iliyasu stated that the team would proceed with staff verification as part of the take-off processes.
