UI Names Zulum As First Ambassador
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has been bestowed with the title of Ambassador by the University of Ibadan (UI) Ambassador as part of the events to mark its 75th anniversary.
According to the university, the anniversary was an opportunity for the university community to acknowledge Zulum’s exceptional contributions to education in the country.
While decorating the governor with a plaque of honour, yesterday, in Maiduguri, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said: “The university has turned 75 years this year. There is every reason to roll out the drums and celebrate the excellence that the university symbolises.”
He said that a celebration was being planned at a date to be made public, disclosing that the anniversary planning committee had been set up last February.
“It’s noteworthy to state that you are a part of that tradition of excellence,” he said.
He added that the anniversary committee recommended and the university management approved that the governor should be designated as an ambassador of the university.
“We are here today to decorate you as the first person to be so decorated as an ambassador to the country’s premier university.”
Adebowale commended the governor’s relentless dedication to improving educational standards, particularly in states affected by the 14-year Boko Haram insurgency.
On Zulum’s contribution to education, he said: “In his first term as governor, he undertook not less than, at least, 556 capital projects and completed 70 per cent of them in four years.
“One-third of the capital projects were on education. One of his hallmarks is to build mega secondary schools with each having 1,500 students capacity. The schools were fully equipped, as compared to some of the universities in the country.
“This (Zulum) is the governor that steered the ship of Borno through the twin turbulence of COVID-19 and the unrelenting insurgency.
“He has proved himself to be a leader that walks the talk by keeping his promise to the people that voted him into office in 2019.”
In his brief remarks, Zulum expressed gratitude for the recognition bestowed on him by the university.
He also accepted the request by the university to be one of the four guests to deliver lectures during the 75th anniversary celebration.
His words: “Let me express my deep appreciation to the Vice Chancellor and the management team for finding me worthy of this decoration as an Ambassador of UI’s 75th anniversary.
“I want to assure you that we shall continue to partner with you. We shall continue to collaborate with you with a view to repositioning the education sector.
“Borno State University (BOSU) is young; it is just four years old. Therefore, we will partner in the areas of staff develop
