Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has appointed the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, as the new Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri.
The appointment letter was presented to the monarch at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Tuesday by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Mallam Bukar Tijani, who represented the governor.
According to Tijani, the appointment was based on the Ooni’s passion for education, proven leadership, and remarkable achievements across various sectors.
He also highlighted the monarch’s national and continental influence, describing him as a royal father whose impact transcends regional boundaries.
The Ooni of Ife currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and is also the proprietor of a private university.
Tijani noted that the appointment rekindles centuries-old historical ties between the ancient kingdoms of Ife and Kanem-Borno, both over 1,000 years old and among Africa’s most enduring traditional empires.
In his response, Oba Ogunwusi expressed gratitude to the Borno State Government and pledged to actively contribute to the growth and development of Kashim Ibrahim University.
He assured that he would not serve merely as a ceremonial figure but would bring his full commitment and experience to the institution.
The monarch also referenced historical links between the Ife and Kanem-Borno lineages, noting that their progenitors were cousins and that both kingdoms successfully resisted external conquests, including the Uthman dan Fodio jihad.
Kashim Ibrahim University, recently renamed, is set to graduate its first set of students under its new identity, with the appointment seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen the role of traditional institutions in education and promote national unity.
