Zulum rejects naming of school project after him

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has rejected the naming of two blocks of hostel at the Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri in his honour.

Zulum was at the polytechnic to commission the hostels for 1,500 students, which was recently renovated and reequipped by the State’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.

The twin-project, named, ‘Engr. Professor Babagana Umara Zulum male students hostel’ was, however, rejected by Governor Zulum after it was announced on Monday.

“No, no, I will not allow any project named after me while I am in office. It should be after my tenure of office,” the governor said.

Zulum, while reading a plaque he unveiled to commemorate the commissioning, also skipped the part his name was mentioned and instead said: “In commemoration of the commissioning of… male students’ hostel.”

The governor, however, paid tribute to the Borno State Commissioner of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Dr. Babagana Mallambe Mustapha, for the “remarkable turnaround of the polytechnic’s fortune”.

The polytechnic has been under the Commissioner’s direct supervision since September 2021 when Governor Zulum suspended management of the institution.

Zulum had undertaken an impromptu visit to the polytechnic during which the governor expressed disappointment at the state of affairs of the institution.

The governor lamented that some facilities he knew well at the school, including laboratories, were no longer functional.

Governor Zulum was the Rector of the polytechnic from 2011 to 2015.

He was also a student from 1986 to 1988 for National Diploma in Engineering, before going for Bachelor’s Degree, Masters, and PhD at the University of Maiduguri and University of Ibadan.

Governor Zulum, who is known to have open affection for Ramat Polytechnic, directed Dr. Mustapha to restore the school’s glory, while the management was suspended for six months.

In those six months (September 2021 to March 2022), Mustapha supervised the restoration of dysfunctional facilities at the Polytechnic and carried out renovation and expansion works on a number of existing projects, and improved general administration of the tertiary school for which he was praised by the governor.

The governor also commended Deputy Rectors and other staff for supporting the commissioner and contributing to the gains recorded.

The Star

Segun Ojo