Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has pledged sustained investment and reforms in the state’s tertiary institutions as part of efforts to strengthen the education sector and develop skilled manpower.
Zulum made the commitment when he received the Forum of Heads of Tertiary Institutions in the state at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The governor said education remains central to the development of the state and assured that his administration would continue to invest in the sector to create better opportunities for young people.
“Education is the bedrock for any meaningful development, and therefore investment in education will never be in vain,” Zulum said.
He said the meeting was convened primarily to address concerns surrounding salary arrears, promotions and other benefits owed to staff of tertiary institutions in the state.
“I want to pay, but I want you to review it very well and get back to me within the next one to two weeks,” the governor told the heads of the institutions.
Zulum also pledged to review the salaries of staff of Ramat Polytechnic and the state’s Colleges of Education, while promising financial support for the accreditation of academic programmes.
He further said his administration would recruit academic staff based on the needs of individual institutions and undertake the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of infrastructure in selected tertiary institutions.
The governor identified Abba Ashigar College of Business and Management Studies, Konduga, and the College of Legal and Islamic Studies as two institutions his administration intends to transform and restore to their desired standards.
He directed the Provost of the College of Business and Management Studies, Konduga, to reintroduce courses including office technology and auditing to strengthen the institution’s capacity to produce middle-level manpower for Ministries, Departments and Agencies across the state.
According to him, the revitalisation of the institution would also help address manpower needs, particularly at the local government level.
Zulum also announced plans to rehabilitate staff quarters at Ramat Polytechnic and remodel the students’ hostel at the College of Nursing, Maiduguri, to increase its accommodation capacity.
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Responding on behalf of the forum, the Vice Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Prof. Babagana Gutti, commended the governor for what he described as significant progress in the education sector, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.
Prof. Gutti also acknowledged the establishment of new federal and state tertiary institutions in Borno, but appealed for increased funding to enable the institutions effectively discharge their responsibilities.
He called for improved staff salaries, recruitment of additional academic and non-academic personnel, construction of staff quarters in institutions without such facilities and rehabilitation of existing quarters.
The vice chancellor also appealed to the state government to provide buses for tertiary institutions to help reduce the transportation burden on students.
