Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has described the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship in Bama as a strategic step to rebuild the North-East through education, agriculture, and youth empowerment.
Speaking Thursday during a visit to Education Minister Tunji Alausa in Abuja, Zulum said the swift appointment of the institution’s principal officers reflects President Bola Tinubu’s “clear commitment” to expanding educational access and accelerating regional recovery after years of insurgency.
Zulum said the specialised university comes at a critical time when the North-East needs targeted investment in agriculture, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation to consolidate gains from the region’s gradual post-Boko Haram rebuilding.
He praised the Federal Government for moving quickly to operationalise the institution, noting that the appointment of a substantive management team signals readiness to begin academic activities without delay.
“This institution has the potential to reshape the future of the North-east by producing skilled manpower, driving agricultural innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for thousands of young people,” Zulum said.
The governor said the university would serve not only as an academic center but also as a hub for economic growth and agricultural transformation in Borno and neighboring states. Stakeholders expect it to focus on dryland agriculture, climate-resilient farming, agribusiness development, and rural entrepreneurship — areas seen as vital for food security and economic recovery in the region.
Zulum pledged the full support of the Borno State government, promising collaboration, infrastructure assistance, and enabling conditions for a smooth take-off.
The newly appointed leadership includes Tijjani Kalli as Vice Chancellor, Abba Kaka as Registrar, Bashir Subaru as Bursar, and Aishatu Halilu as Librarian.
Analysts say the university is one of the most significant federal education interventions in the North-East in recent years, given Bama’s status as one of the communities worst affected by the insurgency.
The institution is also expected to complement federal efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy through agriculture while strengthening vocational training and enterprise development.
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Zulum was accompanied on the visit by Borno State Social Investment Programme Chairman Bukar Talba, Yuguda Vungas Saleh, and elder statesman Mamman Tubo.
The development adds to a growing list of federal initiatives using education as a tool for stabilisation, economic renewal, and long-term peacebuilding in northern Nigeria.
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