The Federal Government has formally taken over the Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education, Science and Technology in Bama, Borno State, as the permanent campus of the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship, Bama.
The transfer was formalised through the signing of a Deed of Transfer, marking a major step towards establishing the university as a centre for agricultural education, entrepreneurship, research and innovation.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Davis, described the development as a milestone that would provide the institution with a foundation for academic excellence and sustainable development.
Ahmad said specialised universities were essential to improving food security, creating employment opportunities, promoting agricultural innovation and diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
She expressed confidence that the university would equip students and farmers with practical skills to establish viable businesses, create jobs and increase agricultural productivity.
The minister stressed that agricultural education should go beyond classroom teaching and subsistence farming to embrace enterprise development, innovation and agricultural value chains capable of stimulating economic growth in Borno State and across the country.
She commended the Borno State Government for its cooperation and support in facilitating the transfer, acknowledging the contributions of relevant departments, agencies, legal officers and other stakeholders, particularly the University Education and Legal Departments of the Federal Ministry of Education.
Ahmad charged the university’s management to maintain and efficiently utilise the facilities, ensure prudent financial management, pursue realistic infrastructure development and uphold academic standards.
She also urged the institution to establish strategic partnerships with research institutions, agricultural organisations, manpower development agencies, private-sector operators and the host community to deliver measurable benefits.
Earlier, Davis described the university as an innovative initiative with the potential to expand educational opportunities and promote inclusive development.
She said the effective use of human, physical and cultural resources would enable the institution to address local needs through research, skills acquisition, innovation and entrepreneurship.
However, Davis cautioned that the signing of the Deed of Transfer must translate into the university’s effective take-off, urging stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education.
She emphasised that the institution’s success would ultimately be measured by its operational readiness and capacity to fulfil its mandate.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Yakaru Mustapha, described the transfer as a historic development demonstrating the state government’s commitment to education, agricultural development and opportunities for young people.
Mustapha expressed confidence that Federal Government ownership would strengthen the university’s resources, research capacity and academic standards while enhancing its contribution to socioeconomic development.
The Director of Legal Services at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Mercy Vivan Agada, provided legal oversight for the process, ensuring that the Deed of Transfer complied with applicable legal and procedural requirements.
Agada underscored the importance of due process and proper documentation in establishing a sound legal foundation for the transfer.
The Federal Government expects the institution to contribute to agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, food security, and economic development through practical training, research, and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
