The Borno State Government has welcomed a high-level delegation from the Federal Ministry of Education for a crucial assessment visit to the Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education, Science and Technology (UIICEST), Bama.
The visit marks a major step toward upgrading the institution into the proposed Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship.
Lawan Abba Wakilbe, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, led the state government’s engagement, assuring the delegation of Borno’s complete cooperation.
He praised Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his significant investments in the state’s education sector, which he said made such federal partnerships possible.
The delegation, led by Rukkaiya Iliyasu, Director of University Education, was received by the Provost, Prof. Kalli Tijjani.
The team assessed key infrastructure, including academic halls, staff quarters, and the perimeter fence, verifying the institution’s readiness for the transition.
During an interactive session, staff expressed optimism about the move to a federal salary and administrative structure.
Ms Iliyasu explained the visit’s core purpose: to “assess the institution’s current status, verify its workforce, and determine which staff will transition to the new federal university and which will remain under state service.”
She also commended the Borno State Government for the improvements already achieved at UIICEST.
On the sidelines, Commissioner Wakilbe highlighted the state’s progress in reducing the number of out-of-school children, which has dropped from 2.2 million in 2019 to approximately 800 today.
He attributed this success to Governor Zulum’s commitment to school reconstruction across liberated communities.
The Borno State Government reaffirmed its dedication to partnering with the Federal Government to ensure the smooth establishment of the university, which is expected to boost learning, research, and economic growth across the Northeast region.
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