The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has announced the conversion of Mustapha Umar El Kanemi 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 insurgents.
Zulum made the announcement on Tuesday while on an inspection visit to the college, preparatory to the conversion.
The initiative is a response to the threat posed by Boko Haram, a terrorist group known for its violent campaign against education and its propagation of a radical and misguided interpretation of Islam.
When established, the new institute will be run in partnership with the Al-Azhar University in Cairo and it will be producing students who will return to Borno’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, 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.
