Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Michigan State University (MSU), United States, to establish a globally competitive Faculty of Agriculture at Gombe State University (GSU), focusing on climate-smart agriculture and sustainable development.
The agreement, signed during a ceremony on Tuesday at MSU, marks a significant milestone in the state’s effort to transform agricultural education and practice in the North-East region of Nigeria.
Senior MSU officials present at the signing included Prof. Bradley Marks, Chair of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering; Prof. Karim Maredia, Assistant Dean and Director of International Programmes; and other top academic leaders.
The partnership outlines key areas of collaboration such as joint research projects, co-development of curriculum, faculty and student exchanges, and projects focused on sustainable agriculture, water management, renewable energy and landscape restoration.
Speaking at the event, Gov. Yahaya described the collaboration as a “cornerstone” of his administration’s sustainable development agenda.
“We are leveraging MSU’s world-class expertise to build a premier agricultural institution in Gombe State. While GSU will benefit significantly, MSU faculty and students will also gain valuable insights from Africa’s dynamic agricultural landscape,” the governor said.
During the visit, Yahaya and his delegation held technical meetings with faculty from MSU’s Departments of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, including Profs. Ajit Srivastava, Narendra Das, Daniel Morris, and Daniel Uyeh.
He also toured MSU’s South Campus Farms alongside Professors Barry Bradford, Jacquelyn Perkin and Uyeh to explore best practices in modern agriculture.
At the African Studies Centre, the governor met with Prof. Leo Zulu, Dr. Jose Jackson-Malete, Dr. Amy Jamison, and MSU’s Vice Provost for International Studies and Programmes, Prof. Titus Awokuse. Discussions focused on research support and institutional collaboration for GSU’s planned College of Agriculture.
Governor Yahaya reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the initiative, citing the approval of ₦1.1 billion for the faculty’s take-off at Malam Sidi and allocation of 365 hectares for research, extension services and expansion.
He noted that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full approval for the college, which is expected to commence academic activities in the 2025/2026 academic session.
In his remarks, Prof. Marks commended the governor’s vision and dedication.
“We commend His Excellency for his strong commitment and follow-up visit. This Letter of Intent reflects a shared determination to deliver a transformative academic partnership,” he said.
The Gombe delegation included Hon. Aliyu Baba Manu, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations; Barr. Moljengo M. Kaltungo, member of the GSU Governing Council; Dr. Ismail Jibrin, Chairman, Gombe State Drugs Management Agency; and Mr. Ahmed Husaini, Director-General, Research and Documentation.
Following the engagements at MSU, Governor Yahaya proceeded to New York to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
