Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has pledged to reform and upgrade facilities at the Mohammed Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies and its Higher Islamic College in Maiduguri.
Zulum made the commitment on Monday at the Government House, Maiduguri, while receiving the report of a 10-man visitation panel set up to assess the activities and operations of the institution.
The governor commended members of the panel for what he described as a thorough and impartial assessment of the college, assuring that the recommendations contained in the report would be implemented soon.
“I want to commend the chairman, members of the committee, provost, management team, and staff of the institution, and I want to assure you that the report of this committee shall be implemented very, very, very soon,” Zulum said.
The governor disclosed that he had personally visited the institution twice in recent months to assess its condition and interact with students and staff.
According to him, he was particularly impressed by the resilience of students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, despite inadequate facilities and limited resources.
Zulum identified poor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and the exclusion of the institution from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) scheme among the major concerns raised by students.
He said the government would address the challenges as part of a rehabilitation programme expected to commence within days.
The governor also backed the recommendation for the establishment of a Governing Council for the institution, saying the move would strengthen leadership, accountability and decision-making.
Zulum further expressed optimism that upgrading the Higher Islamic section would enable the college to admit thousands of additional students, including out-of-school women in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council area who currently lack access to education because of poverty.
“The school has the capacity to recruit not fewer than 10,000 students, even the Higher Islamic section. I think we shall do this one,” he said.
Presenting the visitation panel’s report, its chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abatcha, said the panel found that although the college’s administrative structure remains functional, its leadership and decision-making processes require significant reforms.
The panel also highlighted concerns over staff and student welfare, physical and administrative infrastructure, compliance with directives from supervisory authorities, as well as weaknesses in financial management and resource utilisation.
Among its six key recommendations, the panel called for stronger leadership and decision-making structures, improved staff development and training, and the adoption of comprehensive budgeting, accounting and financial reporting systems.
The event was attended by the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; Commissioners of Education, Local Government and Emirate Affairs, and Women Affairs; the Permanent Secretary, Government House, and other government officials and stakeholders.
