The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards advancing agricultural education, entrepreneurship and food security with the formal signing of the Deed of Transfer of Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education, Science and Technology, Bama, Borno State, as the permanent campus of the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship, Bama.
The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Davis, described the development as a major milestone that provides the university with an institutional foundation for academic excellence, research, innovation and sustainable development.
Professor Ahmad emphasised that specialised universities are essential to strengthening food security, creating employment, promoting agricultural innovation and diversifying Nigeria’s economy. She expressed confidence that the institution would become a centre of excellence in agricultural education and entrepreneurship, equipping students and farmers with practical skills to establish viable businesses, create jobs and improve agricultural productivity.
She stressed that agricultural education must extend beyond classroom instruction and subsistence farming to embrace enterprise development, innovation and agricultural value chains, thereby stimulating economic growth in Borno State and across Nigeria.
The Minister commended the Borno State Government for its cooperation and support, acknowledging the contributions of relevant departments, agencies, legal officers and stakeholders, particularly the University Education and Legal Departments of the Federal Ministry of Education, towards completing the transfer.
She 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 encouraged strategic partnerships with research institutions, agricultural organisations, manpower development agencies, the private sector and the host community to deliver measurable benefits.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Davis described the university as an innovative initiative capable of expanding educational opportunities and promoting inclusive development. She highlighted the importance of deploying human, physical and cultural resources to address local needs through research, skills acquisition, innovation and entrepreneurship.
She 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 Honourable Minister of Education. She stressed that success would ultimately be measured by the institution’s operational readiness and capacity to fulfil its mandate.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Yakaru Mustapha, described the transfer as historic and a demonstration of the state’s commitment to education, agricultural development and opportunities for young people. He expressed confidence that Federal Government ownership would strengthen the university’s resources, research capacity, academic excellence and contribution to socioeconomic development.
The Director of Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Mercy Vivan Agada, provided legal oversight, ensuring that the Deed of Transfer complied with applicable legal and procedural requirements. She underscored the importance of due process and proper documentation in establishing a sound legal foundation for the transfer.
In his vote of thanks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tijjani Kalli, appreciated the Federal Ministry of Education for facilitating the transfer and acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry’s former leadership, the Borno State Governor, state officials and the Director of University Education.
He recalled that Ministry officials inspected the facilities in November 2025, with subsequent visits supporting the process. He expressed gratitude for the successful completion of the exercise on behalf of the university’s management and staff.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the university’s successful take off, with the institution expected to advance agricultural research, entrepreneurship, food security, job creation and sustainable national development.
Photo Credit: TVC News