Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has formalized a strategic partnership with Michigan State University (MSU), USA, to establish a world-class Faculty of Agriculture at Gombe State University (GSU).
The partnership, cemented through the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) at MSU, outlines collaborations in climate-smart agriculture, curriculum co-development, joint research, and faculty and student exchanges.
Governor Yahaya, who led a high-powered delegation to MSU, described the partnership as a “cornerstone” of his administration’s drive for sustainable agricultural transformation. He stressed that while GSU will benefit from MSU’s expertise, the collaboration also offers MSU academics exposure to Africa’s evolving agricultural landscape.
Key discussions focused on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy applications, water management, and landscape restoration. Yahaya also highlighted his administration’s recent approval of ₦1.1 billion and 365 hectares of land for the new faculty, which is set to commence academic programmes in the 2025/2026 session following approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Professor Bradley Marks of MSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering commended the Governor’s vision, describing the LoI as a “transformative academic partnership.”
The Gombe delegation included senior government officials and members of GSU’s governing council. After the MSU engagement, Governor Yahaya departed for New York to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
