Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the management of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Gwoza, accusing the institution’s leadership of poor commitment and ineffective management despite significant investments made by the state government.
Governor Zulum stated that the Borno State Government had provided over N200 million as a take off grant and fully rehabilitated the college infrastructure to facilitate the commencement of academic activities. However, he lamented that the institution has yet to begin full operations.
The Governor recalled that the college, formerly known as Teachers College Gwoza, was handed over to the Federal Ministry of Education after extensive renovations and upgrades.
The remodelled institution now boasts more than 100 upgraded classrooms, modern laboratories, improved administrative facilities, and staff quarters for principal officers.
In addition, the state government constructed a housing estate comprising 12 two-bedroom houses for teachers and later commissioned additional staff quarters to improve accommodation and staff retention.
Speaking during an inspection visit, an angry Governor Zulum criticized the college leadership, particularly the Provost, for failing to demonstrate commitment towards activating the institution.
“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,” Zulum said.
He stressed that the state government would not remain passive while the institution remained dormant despite the huge public investment.
“Borno State Government will not fold its arms and look at them. We shall do all we can to make sure this school functions well. We have provided N200 million as a take-off grant, and we have renovated almost all the buildings in the college,” he added.
The Governor further noted that the lack of commitment from principal officers was hindering the commencement of academic programmes and warned that corrective measures would be taken.
“We will now forward our findings to the Federal Ministry of Education on how we can change some of the principal officers so that academic activities can resume in this school,” he said.
The development raises concerns over the delayed operationalisation of the institution, which was expected to provide educational opportunities and support human capital development in the region.
