Zulum laments poor management of Gwoza college despite huge takeoff grant

By Fatima Haruna (9News Nigeria Maiduguri)

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has condemned what he described as poor management and lack of commitment by the leadership of the Federal College of Education, FCE, Gwoza, for failing to commence full academic activities.

Zulum expressed his concerns on Wednesday after handing over the fully remodeled college site to the Federal Ministry of Education at a ceremony in the Government House Council Chamber, Maiduguri.

The Governor said the state government committed over N200 million as a take-off grant and completed a comprehensive rehabilitation of the institution.

The college, formerly Teachers College Gwoza and owned by the Borno State Government, now has over 100 upgraded classrooms, modern laboratories, improved administrative facilities, staff quarters for principal officers, and a housing estate with about 12 units of two-bedroom houses for teachers.

Additional staff quarters were also commissioned to address accommodation and retention gaps.

The site was allocated in July 2023, and Zulum ordered its complete rehabilitation to prepare the college for its first set of students.

However, despite the investments, the college management has yet to make concrete commitments toward the commencement of academic programmes.

Expressing his frustration, Zulum said, “I am not happy, because this college was established about three years ago and the principal officers were appointed, especially the Provost, but to my dismay.”

“He cannot even install a 5 kVA solar power system at his office. The office is ghostly, none of them is here, an indication that there is no commitment to move this college forward.”

“Borno State Government will not fold its arms and look at them, we shall do all it can to make sure this school function well,” Zulum added.

“We have provided N200 million as a take-off grant, and we have renovated almost all the buildings in the college.”

He further noted that “it is clear that there is no commitment on the side of the principal officers to drive the process and ensure academic activities commence.”

Zulum said the state government will forward its findings to the Federal Ministry of Education and recommend changes to some principal officers to ensure academic activities resume at the institution.