Zulum Donates Multi-Million Naira JAMB Zonal Headquarters, 500-Seat CBT Centre to Boost North-east Education

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Wednesday deepened his administration’s investment in education by handing over a multi-million naira Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) zonal headquarters and one of Nigeria’s largest Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, a landmark project expected to transform tertiary admission services across the North-east.

The ultra-modern facility, strategically located along the Maiduguri-Dikwa Road, will serve as JAMB’s North-east Zonal Office, providing administrative and examination services to the region’s six states. It comprises a modern office complex and a dual CBT centre capable of accommodating 500 candidates simultaneously and processing more than 2,000 candidates daily.

The project is believed to be the first in the country to be wholly financed, constructed and donated by a state government to JAMB.

Commissioning the facility, Zulum described it as part of his administration’s broader strategy to rebuild education in a region that has suffered years of insurgency and disruption to learning.

He said the project was designed not only to improve access to JAMB services but also to strengthen educational infrastructure and reduce the burden on candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

According to the governor, the facility represents Borno State’s contribution to enhancing national education service delivery while positioning the North-east as a major hub for computer-based examinations.

The significance of the project was underscored by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who described it as an unprecedented intervention and one of the finest CBT facilities in Nigeria.

“This is the first time in the history of JAMB that a state governor has independently built and donated a zonal office and CBT centre to the Board,” Oloyede said.

He noted that what was initially conceived as an ambitious proposal had become a reality within just four months, describing the achievement as a reflection of Governor Zulum’s visionary leadership and commitment to education.

“Today, reality has surpassed my expectations. In just four months, what seemed humanly impossible has been accomplished,” he said.

Oloyede explained that the centre would significantly expand JAMB’s operational capacity in the North-east by allowing 500 candidates to write examinations simultaneously while handling over 2,000 candidates each day.

He added that the integrated registration facilities would enable the Board to complete registration and documentation for applicants from Borno State within a few days, drastically reducing delays and travel burdens.

“The CBT centre you have graciously provided will serve as a beacon of excellence for computer-based testing and administrative services. It will bring immense relief to candidates, educational institutions and stakeholders across this region.

“More importantly, it represents Your Excellency’s broader commitment to rebuilding educational confidence and expanding opportunities for young people despite the enormous challenges confronting this region,” he stated.

The outgoing JAMB Registrar further commended Governor Zulum’s sustained investment in education, human capital development and youth empowerment, describing education as the foundation for peace, stability and economic recovery in the North-east.

In a symbolic gesture acknowledging Oloyede’s contributions to educational development in Nigeria, Governor Zulum directed the Borno State Ministry of Education to name the newly commissioned facility after the outgoing JAMB Registrar.

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani; the incoming JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina; Acting Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Malumbe; Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe; and other senior government officials.

The commissioning marks another milestone in Borno State’s post-insurgency recovery efforts, with the Zulum administration continuing to prioritise investments in schools, tertiary institutions and educational infrastructure as a pathway to rebuilding the state and expanding opportunities for its youth.

Zulum Donates Multi-Million Naira JAMB Zonal Headquarters, 500-Seat CBT Centre to Boost North-east Education

Two Teenage Girls Escape Terrorist Enclave, Surrender to Troops in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

Two teenage girls believed to be family members of Boko Haram terrorists have escaped from an insurgent enclave in the Mandara Mountains and surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the girls surrendered at about 3:55 p.m. on July 21 to troops of C Company, 192 Battalion (Mechanised), deployed in Gwoza.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the girls escaped from the Grazah terrorist enclave located in the Mandara Mountains before making their way to the military position.

The girls were identified as Fatima Adamu, 11, and Rahima Adamu, 7.

Military sources said the two minors were received by the troops, properly screened and documented in line with established operational procedures.

They are currently in the custody of the 192 Battalion for further profiling and appropriate administrative action.

The surrender is the latest in a series of escapes and voluntary surrenders involving women and children from terrorist enclaves in the North-East as sustained military operations continue to exert pressure on insurgent strongholds.

Military authorities said the general security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, with troops maintaining high morale and operational readiness while continuing offensive operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements.

Two Teenage Girls Escape Terrorist Enclave, Surrender to Troops in Borno

Farmers praise Zulum over fertiliser subsidy

Some farmers in Bayo Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno have commended the state government’s intervention in subsidising and distributing bags of fertiliser to support the rural farmers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno had on July 8, in Kwayar Kusar, inaugurated the sale and distribution of 200 truckloads of NPK fertiliser.

The commodity, according to Zulum would be sold to farmers, across the state at a 50 per cent subsidised rate, to support farmers during the 2026 wet season farming.

The governor also distributed free agricultural inputs to 120,000 farmers to boost food production and improve livelihoods across the state.

The farmers in separate interviews with NAN in Gamadadi community of Bayo LGA on Monday, confirmed receiving the subsidised fertilisers, as their counterparts in Biu, Hawul, Kwayar Kusar and Shani LGAs.

Daudu Hudu, the head of farmers in Gamadadi Ward, said every unit in his ward had received the subsidised fertiliser, reaching over 75 per cent of their farmers in the ward.

Hudu said the commodity, came as a relief to many farmers, in view of the high cost of fertiliser and the unavailability of resources to procure the commodity.

He said that the state government’s intervention in subsidising fertilisers annually had been helpful in retaining many farmers in the vocation, stressing that the high cost of inputs was discouraging most people from farming.

According to him, with the 50 per cent off the market price of the commodity, farmers were able to buy twice as much as they would have bought with their money.

“The state government of Borno is really supporting farmers, especially when you compare with other states; this is why we are commending our Governor, Babagana Zulum.

“Without this support, many farmers would struggle to cultivate their farms and may even abandon their farms which would have affected the food security efforts of government,” he said.

On her part, Mrs Hauwa Shehu told NAN that the support has been of immense impact especially in empowering women farmers who were more affected by high cost of farming inputs.

For Hassan Bayo, a rice farmer from Gamadadi, said he would have abandoned rice cultivating this year but for the fertiliser support from the state government.

They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to reintroduce the Anchor Borrower’s Programme initiated by the previous administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, to support farmers.

Farmers praise Zulum over fertiliser subsidy