Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has announced the conversion of Mustapha Umar Elkanemi Arabic (Teachers) College in Maiduguri to a specialised institute for teaching of Arabic and Islamic education that will aim to counter the ideology of Boko Haram.
According to a statement by media aide, Isa Gusau, the governor made the announcement on Tuesday while on inspection visit to the college, preparatory to the conversion.
According to the statement, the initiative is meant as a response to the threat posed by Boko Haram, a militant group known for its violent campaign against education and its propagation of a radical and misguided interpretation of Islam.
It said when established, the new institute will be run in partnership with the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt and it will produce students who will return to the state’s 27 local government areas for preaching that will counter Boko Haram’s ideas.
“We are here to examine the capacity of this school, in terms of human resources and the infrastructure with a view to converting it to be Al-Azhar Institute”, Zulum announced.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has directed the newly established Borno State Arabic and Tsangaya Education Board to take over the administration of all Tsangaya and Islamic Schools in Borno State.
