Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Sunday distributed 1,000 solar-powered water pumps and 200 complete tubewell drilling kits to farmers in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, in a renewed push to strengthen dry-season farming and support resettling communities.
The governor also commissioned a newly constructed Higher Islamic College in the town, underscoring his administration’s commitment to agricultural development and education recovery across the state.
Zulum was accompanied during the working visit by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony, Zulum said the intervention was aimed at reinforcing year-round farming and enhancing food security in the face of climate variability, insecurity, and rapid population growth.
“From the beginning of this administration, dry-season irrigation farming was adopted as a strategic component of the state’s food security framework,” he said. “Recognising the limitations of rain-fed agriculture, the government implemented a dual-season production strategy to ensure continuous agricultural activities.”
The governor noted that the latest support builds on earlier investments in irrigation infrastructure, mechanisation services, farmer training, cooperative development, and security stabilisation efforts in Damasak and surrounding communities.
He added that Borno State remains aligned with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit and continues to collaborate with relevant federal ministries and development partners to improve agricultural productivity, processing, and market access.
At the commissioning of the Higher Islamic College, Damasak, Zulum described the project as a milestone in the state’s policy to expand and modernise Sangaya education.
“The commissioning of the Higher Islamic College represents our commitment to building an inclusive education system that integrates spiritual development with academic and vocational advancement,” he said.
According to the governor, all Higher Islamic Colleges in the state operate under the approved curriculum of the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), enabling students to obtain O-Level equivalent certification and pursue further education opportunities.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the institution forms part of a broader education recovery and expansion programme under the Zulum administration.
He disclosed that the state government has constructed 104 mega schools, rehabilitated and remodelled 1,087 classrooms, carried out major works in 40 additional schools, restored 30 flood-affected schools, and delivered numerous classroom projects through the State Universal Basic Education Board.
Wakilbe stated that these investments have significantly reduced the number of out-of-school children in Borno State from about 2.2 million to fewer than 800,000.
He added that enrolment for the 2025 academic year currently stands at 1,418,279 learners, with expectations of further increases as more completed schools become operational.