The noble idea to establish a State University in Borno State was first thought of by the administration of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff which was actualized by Honorable Kashim Shettima, the former Executive Governor of Borno State. The Government clearly expressed its determination to provide sound and qualitative education in the state. It aimed at establishing a good tertiary institution for thousands of our Senior Secondary School Certificate holders at a time of stiff competition for admissions into institutions of higher learning to which Borno State is a catchment area and host community.
Appreciating the fact that the present number of Universities in the country can hardly accommodate more than 20% of the total number of candidates seeking admissions each year, particularly Borno State indigenes who have met the requirements for admission into universities were left roaming the streets, largely due to inadequate spaces in the existing universities. This situation readily called for the need to establish a state owned University in Borno State.
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff went further to constitute a Technical Committee for the establishment of the Borno State University, in Maiduguri under the Chairmanship of Professor Muhammad Nur Alkali. Hon. Kashim Shettima actualized the establishment of the Borno State University, by first signing the bill into law in 2012. He reactivated the Technical Committee after the demise of Professor Mohammed Nur Alkali, with Professor Abubakar Mustapha as Chairman in 2016. The University thereafter got its oparations approved by NUC in 2016. Hon Kashim Shettima in line with the Borno State University Law sought the approval of the Executive Council for the appointment of Principal Officers of the University with Professor Umar Kyari Sandabe as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor in March, 2019. Armed with a prepared Academic Brief, the Law establishing the University and the Master Plan, the NUC approved by the establishment of The University planned for a twenty five (25) year period and provides the details of the Vision, Mission, Philosophy Objectives, Administrative structure and Research Policy for the University. The brief captures the Faculties, Departments and courses that the University shall offer at inception and its full maturity over a twenty five year period. It also captures the number of staff and students that shall populate the University in the first ten (10) years of its existence as well as the resources required to run the University during the same period.
MOTTO
The Motto of the Borno State University is written in Arabic phrase ‘Al-Ilmu laisa lahu hudu’ud which literarily means “Knowledge has no boundaries”. The word ‘Knowledge’ in the Motto signifies the power of human intellect necessary, for human development and survival that the search for knowledge unleashes and harnesses
This shall provide the impetus for the students that pass through the University to seek for Truth and pursue it. The University shall therefore foster the continuous search for knowledge, Truth and the advancement of mankind. The word ‘No Boundaries’ in the Motto signifies the enlightenment, illumination, freedom from ignorance, and confidence that the acquisition of knowledge bestows on a scholar. It represents the aspiration of the University, people and government of Borno State for rapid cultural and socio-economic development.
LOGO
The Borno State University logo simply talks about how education is evolving in Borno State, starting from the ancient way of acquiring knowledge down to the digital age. It emphasizes on the safe environment where knowledge seekers can learn to become qualitative graduates that would aid the development of Borno State and the nation at large.
The logo has a slate, a book, computer, convocation cap, shield, leaves and Arabic inscription.
The slate defines the reknowed Islamic educational background in Borno since from the 11th century.the books define the western educational history in Borno from the 19th century that’s the paper and pencil based. The computer denotes digital education. The convocation cap represents the qualitative graduates that the university would cultivate. The shield means how secure the educational standard the University would provide. A brown color in the shield represents the sahelian region. The leaves symbolizes the growth, stability as well as community development in the state. While the Arabic pharse is the motto of the University which literary means “knowledge has no boundaries”
VISION
The Vision of the Borno State University is to develop an institution of higher learning that shall be a Centre of Excellence in teaching, leaning and research where high quality University education is imparted to all without discrimination, for the rapid transformation of the Communities.
MISSION
The Mission of the Borno State University is to provide excellent, modem, free and dynamic environment and adequate facilities, conducive for training and research through its programs for students to acquire the right type of knowledge and skill of good quality that would enable them to be self-employable and that are relevant to the transformation and accelerated development of Borno State, Nigeria and world in general through service.
PHILOSOPHY
A good University is a product of its socio-cultural environment, dictated by the core values of its society which include knowledge, teaching, good governance and justice. It must be a vehicle of unity, peace, harmony and progress; a pride for its students, scholars and leaders; and a hope for the young who are aspiring to a greater future. A good university is also open to all men and women irrespective of race creed, social status or religion and is able to attract Staff and Students from all parts of the world.
The philosophy of the Borno State University is anchored on the principles of the universality of knowledge, freedom and service. The University shall be in a character, a reservoir of knowledge derived from the experiences of its immediate environment, the Nation and the world at large. It shall be a center of attraction for all those in search of new ideas and the way forward for the society.
The Borno State University shall provide means for expanding access to quality University education in Nigeria, given the ever-increasing demand for University education. To ensure that the University is able to attract and retain quality Staff strategic welfare packages shall be implemented by the University, which shall include better funding and support for researches; a Staff House Ownership Scheme; and the provision of loans to enable staff own their vehicles, education and computing equipment.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
To ensure the Vision and Mission for which the Borno State University is established are fully achieved, the following objectives are spelt out in the University Law:
The State Executive Council resolved that the University should be located on a single campus sited in the state capital Maiduguri. It was also unanimously resolved that the University should be a Conventional one so that it can accommodates the human resource needs of both the public and the private sectors in the State and the University was established by Law which was enacted by the Borno State House of Assembly on 20 September, 2012 and was recognized by the National universities Commission (NUC) in November, 2016.
April 2019 Governor Kashim Shettima appointed the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Umar Kyari Sandabe, and other Principal Officers of the University, constituted the University Governing Board under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Muhammad Indimi and crowned it up by the appointment of the first Chancellor of the university in the person of His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano. Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, mni, who took over from Kashim Shettima as the Executive Governor of Borno State in May 2019, provided the necessary impetus for the immediate commencement of academic activities of the State University. After making series of consultation and contacts with the National Universities Commission, the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund) Secretariat and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Management paved the way for a smooth takeoff of the University’s academic programmes. Accordingly, approval was granted by both NUC and JAMB to Borno State University to commence academic activities as from the 2019/2020 Admissions.
For a start, the University had four faculties, namely Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts and Education, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, and Faculty of Science. A total of twenty-one (21) Departments would be housed in these faculties. Faculty of Agriculture would consist of the Departments of Animal Science, Agricultural Economics and Extension, Agronomy and Soil Science, as well as Fisheries. Faculty of Education would consist of Departments of Languages, Islamic Studies, Educational Foundation, Arts and Social Science Education, and Science Education. The Faculty of Social and Management Sciences would consist of the Departments of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Geography, Mass Communication, Political Science, Public Administration, and Sociology. The Faculty of Science would consist of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Physics. In all, thirty-two (32) academic programmes leading to the award of Bachelor’s degrees would be run by the twenty-one (21) departments of the four faculties of the University.
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY
Prof. Umar Kyari Sandabe Vice Chancellor
Prof. Fanna I. Abdulrahman DVC (Central Administration)
Prof. Haruna D. Dlakwa D VC (Academic Services)
Zanna M. Kashim Registrar
Dr. Abba Buba University Libraian
Mal. Adamu Saidu Bursar
Engr. Mohammed Habib Director of Works Physical Planning and Development
OTHER OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY
Madu Tasiwa Mshelia Director Internal Audit
Yusuf B. Yari Chief Security Officer
DEANS AND DIRECTORS
Professor Abdul Abu Ibarhim Faculty of Agriculture
Professor Adam Ajiri Faculty of Arts and Education
Professor Mohammed Gujibawu Faculty of Social &Management Sciences
Professor Yagana Karumi Faculty of Science
Dr. Muhammad Musa Academic Planning
FACULTY AND DEPARTMENTS
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
FACULTY OF ARTS AND EDUCATION,
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
FACULTY OF SCIENCE