Federal College of Horticulture Gombe Introduces AI, Cybersecurity Courses

Federal College of Horticulture Gombe Introduces AI, Cybersecurity Courses

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

The Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe State, has introduced new programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Microbiology and Social Development as part of efforts to expand its academic offerings and align its curriculum with emerging workforce demands.

The Provost of the college, Dr Umar Abdullahi, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, saying the initiative is part of a broader reform to reposition the institution beyond its traditional focus on horticulture and agricultural training.

The reforms, he said, also include restructuring the college’s academic system, restoring accreditation for academic programmes, expanding career opportunities for staff and strengthening partnerships in research, innovation and community development.

“Our goal is to position the college as a modern institution that responds to the needs of society while producing graduates with relevant skills, innovation and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development,” Mr Abdullahi said.

The introduction of AI and Cybersecurity programmes comes at a time when Nigerian tertiary institutions are increasingly incorporating digital technology into their curricula to prepare students for opportunities in the knowledge economy.

Mr Abdullahi said student enrolment has increased significantly since he assumed office, rising from about 250 students to nearly 1,250 during the institution’s latest matriculation exercise.

He attributed the increase to measures introduced by the management, including the establishment of a Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Support Centre to assist prospective students with admissions and the adoption of the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial support to eligible students.

According to him, the college’s new Social Development programme is designed to equip students with the skills required to address issues such as insecurity, conflict resolution and community development.

“Our objective is to produce graduates who are not only academically qualified but also equipped with practical skills that will make them employable and capable of creating jobs for themselves,” he said.

The provost said the institution is also seeking affiliations with universities to introduce degree programmes while strengthening entrepreneurship education, agricultural research and extension services.

He added that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is expected to conduct the re-accreditation of about 10 academic programmes on 23 August.

According to him, accreditation remains essential to maintaining academic standards and ensuring that qualifications awarded by the institution retain their value.

Mr Abdullahi also highlighted the college’s partnership with Plough Ministry of Nigeria under an out-grower scheme that supports farmers with improved inputs, technical assistance and access to markets for maize and soybean production.

He said the reforms are aimed at positioning the institution to respond to changing national development priorities by producing graduates with practical skills in agriculture, technology and entrepreneurship.