President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Professor Musa Isiyaku Ahmed as Vice Chancellor of the newly established University of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State.

The Director Information Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Theodore Ogaziechi, said the Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, while conveying the letter of appointment stated that

Professor Ahmed’s legacies as the maiden Vice Chancellor will determine the prominence and pride of place the university will occupy in world universities ranking in the nearest future. 

Musa Ahmed, until his appointment, was a Professor in the Department of Veterinary, Parasitology and Entomology at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. He is a Fellow, College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Human and Natural Resources; Member, Computer Professional Regulatory Council of Nigeria (CPN); Member, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Director, Instructional Technology

Centre, University of Maiduguri, among others.  Alhaji Sabo Nanono also conveyed the letter of appointment to the Registrar of the University, Yusuf Abdulazeez Bazata, from Kebbi State, whose appointment was also approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for the smooth and unhindered take-off of the University. 

Earlier in his remarks, Professor Ahmed said his team will work assiduously in order to accomplish the mandate of the newly established University which is to “harness agricultural and livestock resources for human development and to promote contemporary agricultural technology and advances in Veterinary

Medicine through the functional integration of information and communication technology in teaching, learning and research environment”. Professor Ahmed went further to say “We envisioned to develop creative, innovative, research-oriented and competent human resource with enthusiasm to service and inspired by entrepreneurship in agriculture and livestock resources.” 

In his response, Ahmed also observed that for a university of agriculture to thrive, flourish and prosper, it must be an institutional player in prototypical agricultural skills acquisition as well as entrepreneurship, preoccupied with the task of strengthening human capital. 

The Vice Chancellor promised to strive hard to create sound and solid foundation for the new University where skills, expertise and excellence will be employed as requisite building blocks in order to harvest products that are job creators rather than job seekers. 

In a related development, the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, has advised the management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru to work hard so as to achieve the goals and objectives for which the institution was established. The Senate President made this call on Thursday 19th March, 2020 when the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, Professor Musa Ahmed paid him a courtesy call at his office shortly after collecting his letter of appointment.

Sen. Ahmed Lawan further advised Professor Ahmed to imbibe the culture of inclusiveness in his administration and promote a good relationship between the town and gown. He went further to advise the Vice Chancellor “to be on the path of righteousness, justice and empathy devoid of all sentiments, predispositions and prejudices”. The Senate President noted that some of the community leaders in Kebbi state were at the forefront of initiating the idea of establishing the University and are therefore vital support lines for the smooth take-off of the institution. He then concluded by congratulating Professor Ahmed on his appointment as the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru and assured him of his enthusiasm to assist the University, adding that his doors are always open to support citadels of learning. 

The newly appointed Vice Chancellor, earlier in his remarks, stated that the essence of the visit is to seek support and advocacy in the take-off of the new University. He then thanked the Senate President and the Red Chamber for their visionary foresight in approving the bill establishing the University and promised to work hard to ensure the commencement of academic programmes by September 2020.

The Vice Chancellor also paid courtesy calls to stake-holders and solicited for their support. While with Distinguished Senator Bala Na’Allah, Ahmed was assured of 100% support in his task ahead. Senator Na’Allah urged the Vice Chancellor not to hesitate to call his attention where assistance is required. He went further to pledge his willingness to equip the University’s medical centre and refurbish the house he generously allowed the University to use for two years to accommodate its staff. Other elders in the community similarly donated houses for the initial take off of the institution, namely, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, Zubairu Abdullahi and other Zuru community elders.

General Ishaya Bamaiyi also pledged to further support the University when the need arises. General Bamaiyi advised the Vice Chancellor to be focused and carry out his responsibilities diligently and devoid of sentiments and prejudices. In the same vein, Professor Ahmed called on yet another elder stateman in the person of Ambassador S.T. Dogonyaro to reveal his mission and solicit for support. Ambassador Dogonyaro expressed his delight and declared his readiness to sacrifice for the take off of the institution. He congratulated Professor Ahmed on his appointment and in his own words said “I am very glad that God gave us someone like you with very relevant qualifications and experience.” He went further to say “Be assured of our continued support” and he prayed for God’s guidance and protection for a successful tenure. Ambassador Dogonyaro, -who is a seasoned diplomat and prolific writer, donated two copies of his publication on “Nigerian Federalism” to the University’s library and a personal copy to the Vice Chancellor. In exchange, Professor Ahmed also presented souvenir to him on behalf of the University.

Before reporting to his station, Ahmed visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi to receive the royal blessings and good omen. In his response, the Shehu of Borno expressed his pleasure and appreciated the gesture displayed by President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing yet another native of Borno to take charge of a federal institution. The Shehu of Borno urged Professor Ahmed to be a good Ambassador of Borno and leave credible legacies that will flourish long after his tenure. He went further to say Zuru and Gwandu Emirates in Kebbi State have long history of allegiance to Borno Emirate and thus considered the appointment as “home-away-from-home”. He concluded by presenting a royal gift to the Vice Chancellor to commemorate the visit and prayed for God’s guidance and protection throughout the tenure of office.  In his response, Ahmed thanked the Shehu of Borno for the royal gift, blessings and prayers and promised to heed the advices.