Zulum approves rehabilitation of state college

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has approved the rehabilitation of the Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture, Maiduguri, with an additional N500 million cash support.

The college was severely affected by the flood that ravaged parts of Maiduguri metropolis and surrounding local government areas on September 10.

Governor Zulum announced the approval during an assessment visit to the college, where he met with the management and staff.

He noted that the government would embark on essential repairs, upgrade academic facilities, and provide modern teaching tools to ensure students have access to necessary resources to excel academically.

According to the governor, the rehabilitation efforts would modernise the college’s infrastructure and provide students with the necessary resources and facilities to thrive academically.

“I can see that this college needs a lot of support. Your existing facilities are not enough to provide the needed quality knowledge. Therefore, I want to announce that, Insha’Allah, we will provide more infrastructure to the school.

“We will build more classrooms, hostels, lecture theatres, and other facilities,” Zulum said.

The governor, however, charged the management of the school to use the N500 million to invest in revenue-generating ventures, such as aquaculture, livestock, poultry, and agriculture, to make the college self-reliant.

“I want the provost and staff of this college to put heads together and see how you will generate revenue. But I want you to understand that education is a social service.

“I am not saying that you generate revenue from tuition fees, no. You can invest in aquaculture, livestock, poultry, rain-fed agriculture, and irrigation agriculture,” Governor Zulum remarked.

As part of the intervention, Governor Zulum also announced that each of the 197 staff members would receive N200,000, while each of the 937 students would get N100,000 to replace their lost belongings due to the flood.

The governor also directed the deployment of agricultural facilities and tools, including drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, to the college.

Governor Zulum was accompanied on the visit by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bukar Tijani; an elder statesman, Alhaji Musa Inuwa Kubo; and the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Busuguma, among other senior officials.