Farmers in Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno have commended the state government’s security initiatives aimed at tackling farmer-herder clashes in the area.

Alhaji Hassan Musa, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kwaya Kusar chapter, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kwaya Kusar town on Thursday.

Musa said measures adopted by the state government, including the establishment of Agro-Rangers and other security initiatives, had helped reduce farmer-herder clashes in the area.

He said since the state government, in collaboration with the local government, implemented the initiative, farmers had enjoyed safe access to their farmlands.

According to him, the council chairman, Mr Dahiru Hamma, and the Biu Emirate Council had also strengthened dialogue and community engagement to promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.

“Farmers and herders are now carrying out their activities without any rancor because of the measures put in place and these have helped farmers boost productivity.

“No more destruction on our farmlands which often cause huge losses for farmers and reduce their incomes.

“We now have hunters guarding our farmlands and coordinating activities around our farmlands to ensure no encroachment until we harvest our produce.

“We thank Gov. Babagana Zulum, Mr Hamma and the Biu Emirate Council for being proactive,” he said.

Musa also commended Zulum for subsidising fertilisers for farmers in the area, providing input support for dry-season farming and distributing 500 bicycles to farmers.

He said the bicycles, which had been distributed to farmers, had ensured easier access to farmlands while reducing transportation costs.

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.

Borno: Federal lawmaker distributes 12, 000 bags of fertiliser to constituents

By Peter Uwumarogie

Hon. Aliyu Betara, representing Biu/Bayo/Kwaya-Kusar/ Shani Federal Constituency in Borno has distributed 12, 000 bags of NPK fertiliser to farmers in his constituency.

The distribution of the free fertiliser was inaugurated in Kwaya-Kusar on Saturday and the commodity was distributed to farmers across the constituency.

Mr Yamta Gur, the leader of Betara Free Fertiliser Distribution Committee who performed the exercise on behalf of Betara said it was part of his annual support to farmers.

Gur said that the support reaffirmed the federal lawmaker’s unwavering commitment to improving agricultural productivity and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers throughout the constituency.

“This intervention is aimed at empowering smallholder farmers and boosting agricultural productivity during the 2026 rainy season.

“This reflects Mr Betara’s strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of his constituents through sustained support for agriculture and other sectors,” he said.

He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fertiliser to ensure a successful farming season, emphasising that the intervention was designed to boost food production, strengthen food security, and improve household incomes.

Gur who is also the Coordinator of Political Affairs in the constituency, conveyed Betara’s assurance of greater dividends of democracy while reaffirming his dedication to people-centred representation and sustainable development across the constituency.

He said that the commodity was also distributed to clubs and associations as well as opposition political parties in Biu Local Government Area.

Some of the farmers and beneficiaries who spoke to our Correspondent expressed their appreciation to the lawmaker, describing the gesture as a timely and vital support for the rainy season.

They commended the lawmaker’s consistent concern for the welfare of ordinary people and his dedication to agricultural development and rural livelihood support.