Faculty of Agriculture

Dean's Profile

Name: Professor Usman Adamu Izge [B. Agric., M. Sc. (ABU), PhD (FUTY), FCAI]

Position: Dean Faculty of Agriculture

Usman Adamu Izge was born at the General Hospital Maiduguri on 16th December, 1966. He attended Izge ‘A’ Primary School from 1972 to 1978 and Mafoni Primary School in Maiduguri from 1978 to 1980. He proceeded to Government Secondary School Jakusko in 1980 and then Government Science Secondary School Gashua all in Yobe State from 1982 to 1985 where he was Assistant Head Boy in 1984 and Head Boy in 1985. He was at the School of Basic Studies (SBS), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria from August 1985 to June, 1986 and then to Faculty of Agriculture also at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1986. He graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture Degree in Crop Science in 1990 and did National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a class room teacher at Government College Wamba, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State from October 1990 to September, 1991.

On completion of NYSC he was appointed as Assistant Lecturer in December 1991 at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri, where he taught courses in agriculture up to January, 1994. In the same year 1994, he was appointed as Graduate Assistant in the then Department of Crop Science and now Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri on 17th January. He proceeded for Postgraduate Degree also in the same year 1994 to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Genetics and Crop Breeding in 1998. After completion of Masters Degree, he returned to Maiduguri and was promoted to Assistant Lecturer in the same year. He was subsequently promoted to Lecturer II in 2000 and Lecturer I in 2002. He enrolled for PhD Degree at Federal University of Technology, now Modibbo Adama University Yola in 2004 and graduated in 2007 with a PhD Degree in Genetics and Crop Breeding. Upon returning after obtaining PhD Degree, he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in October 2007 and to Associate Professor in October, 2009 and to Professor in October, 2012 by University of Maiduguri Governing Council.

He was a member Faculty of Research Committee, secretary Standing Committee on Examination Malpractice, member National Agricultural and Land Development (NALDA) feasibility studies, member Farm Management Committee. He was Departmental Examination Officer and a Faculty Year Coordinator. He was Member University of Maiduguri Biotechnology and Technical Implementation Committee, member Board of Journal of Arid Agriculture, elected member from University of Maiduguri Congregation on Campus Tenant Committee and, Campus Motoring Committee. He was member Curriculum Review Committee at the Faculty of Agriculture Federal University Kashere. He was appointed by His Excellency Governor Kashim Shettima as member Borno State Government Agricultural Transformation Team from 2012 to 2015.

Professor Izge was Chairman Strategic Planning Drafting Committee, Federal University Dutse, Chairman Administrative Investigative Committee, Chairman Teaching and Learning Committee, Chairman War Against Grade Sorting, Chairman Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee, Chairman University Health Policy Committee, Chairman, University Farm, Chairman, Academic Brief Review Committee, Chairman Student Disciplinary Committee, Chairman House Allocation Committee, Member Finance and General Purpose Committee on Council, and Member Appointment and Promotion Committee also on Council. He was Chairman Committee on the review of scheme of service for Academic Staff, Chairman Committee on review of conditions of service for junior and senior non-teaching staff. Professor Izge was also the Chairman, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee on TetFund Projects, and Chairman SERVICOM Committee. He was Member Procurement Planning Committee, Member on Committee of Board of Consultancy Services and Member Federal University Dutse Security Committee. At National level, Professor Izge was a State Facilitator national immunization baseline coverage survey in charge of Nasarawa State in 2001. He was a member on a National Study for the Rehabilitation of Public Irrigation Scheme. He was facilitator National Population and Housing Census in 2006 Population and Housing Census. Member National Experts on Climate Change that was charged with the preparation of Nigeria 2nd National Communication on Green House Gases, Vulnerability and Adaptability. He was the Team Leader, North eastern Nigeria Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) Project, sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation. He was a visiting Professor in the Department of Crop Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi from 2013 – 2020 and has been external examiner in several other Universities. He was also a visiting lecturer at Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus from 2008-2010. Professor Izge supervised several postgraduate students both at M. Sc and PhD. He was the Head of Department, Department of Crop Production Faculty of Agriculture University of Maiduguri from 2010 to 2012 and proceeded on sabbatical leave in 2012 to Federal University Dutse in Jigawa State.

Professor Izge was the pioneer Head of Crop Science Department, Federal University Dutse. He was Dean of Student Affairs, Federal University Dutse and was the Editor-in-Chief, Dutse Journal of Agriculture and Food Security (DUJAFS). He was also the Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance of the University. Professor Izge was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Central Administration, Federal University Dutse. He has received several awards among which are, the Best Maize Technology Development and Dissemination Team Award, by Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation in 2007 and 2010. He also received distinguished award of honor by the Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN), Fellow Award by Corporate Affairs Institute, Award of Excellence by National Association of Agricultural Students, Award of Honour as 1st PhD holder in Izge Community by Izge Student Association, Award of Honour as 1st Professor in Izge Community and Gwoza West also by Izge Student Association. Professor Izge is a member of Genetic Society of Nigeria (GSN), Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), Plant Breeders Association of Nigeria (PBAN) and several other professional bodies. He has published widely and has to his credit more than 50 publications including books and articles that appear in national and international reputable journals. Professor Izge has visited several countries in Europe. He has also visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and several countries in Africa and Asia. Professor Izge can simply be described as honest, hard working and level headed gentleman that minds his business. He is happily married to Fanna Alhaji Garba. By the grace of God Almighty, Professor Izge has been blessed with a number of fast growing, healthy and amiable children. He is presently the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture.

About

Faculty of Agriculture was among the pioneer faculties after the University received its charter from the Federal Government of Nigeria on 10th February, 2011. The Faculty started with 4 Departments i.e. Animal Science, Crop Science, Agricultural Economics and Extension, and the Department of Soil Science. The first sets of students were 29 in number and the initial place of the Faculty and indeed even the whole of the University was the former Dutse Model School which is now referred to as the ‘Old Site’. The pioneer Dean of the Faculty was Professor Abubakar Musa Kundiri who also acted for the 4 Departments during the few years of their initial take off.

The Faculty of Agriculture seeks to attract a diverse and international and national student body, to support research and teaching on global issues in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. It expects all its Department and Units to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey its product of intellectual and academic efforts to the University host communities, nation, and the world. The faculty is committed to the best tradition of excellence and aspires to be a teaching and research-intensive academic establishment.

Faculty Colour

The Faculty colour is Green, and will be depicted in the hoods and tassels of the academic gown for the graduates of the Faculty at the University’s Matriculation and or Convocation. The Motto of the Faculty is taken from the University’s motto, namely “Knowledge, Excellence, and Service”. The Faculty is committed to local and universal knowledge that is based on the best tradition which has guided the intellectual heritage of mankind. It is on these bases that the faculty would produce a new breed of graduates that would be dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, aspire to traditions of excellence in all respects, and accept selfless, disciplined, and dedicated public service.

Vision Statement

To excel in educating students for academic and moral competence for attainment of national agricultural sustainability.

 

 

Mission Statement

To promote a holistic approach to life by establishing a dynamic community of learning that is committed to teaching, research and outreach by addressing the challenges of food production in order to meet the nutritional requirements of Nigerians and encouraging income generation for improving the quality of life of current and future generations through improved agricultural practices and the sustainable management of natural resources.

The faculty will thrive to cultivate learning, develop knowledge, and foster the free exchange of ideas. The faculty will focus on a strong tradition of distinguished scholarship, research, teaching, and service that is grounded in a commitment to increasing and disseminating scientific knowledge for the benefit of the larger society. In this, the faculty will strive to champion agricultural and environmental research in the university with extensive programmes that are dedicated to outstanding undergraduate and professional education.

The faculty’s graduates will be prepared to contribute to a global society that requires leaders with creativity, integrity, and dedication to service. The Faculty intends to achieve by offering state-of-the art training that prepares the graduates for responsibilities of the workplace; by engaging in appropriate research activities that will produce the most sought-after graduates by all employers of labour, postgraduate schools, and research institutes; establishing institutional linkages for mutually beneficial relationships; and by striving to become a Centre of excellence where expertise and facilities to accelerate the pace of the nation’s development would be provided.

Philosophy

Promotion of an environment to inspire learning, encourage intellectual curiosity and respect for values of an increasingly diverse population.

Objectives

The broad objective is to produce graduates who are well trained in all aspects of agriculture. The specific objectives are to:

  1. Prepare students for careers in agriculture and allied fields,
  2. Create an understanding of a holistic and an integrated system approach to agriculture and related resource management,
  • Produce graduates having an appropriate balance between theory and practical application of knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.
  1. Develop a training process which will produce graduates who possess the willingness to respond to the needs and welfare of people,
  2. Improve agricultural production and stabilize national economy.

Organizational Structure

The Faculty of Agriculture is headed by a Dean who is the Chairman of the Faculty Board. The Dean coordinates all administrative, teaching, research and community services as approved by the Senate and University Management. He is also responsible to the Vice-Chancellor in matters relating to academics and administration of the faculty.

Departments

The Faculty started with four academic departments as take-off in 2011 viz;

  1. Agricultural Economics and Extension
  2. Animal Science
  3. Crop Science
  4. Soil Science.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management were established later.

In another development, the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension which was one of the Departments at take off was split into Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, and Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development in the 2022/2023 academic session for improvement and enhanced performance.

At the moment the Faculty now has a total of seven (7) Academic Departments. Each academic department is headed by a senior academic staff and has a number of other academic and non-teaching staff.

Research Centre

The University, in furtherance of its agricultural development agenda has established a Centre for Agricultural Research and Extension Services (CARES). Even though the Centre seems to be autonomous, but there is strong collaboration between it and the Faculty. The center was at establishment call Centre for Agricultural Research and Foods Security and was later changed to Centre for Agricultural Research and Extension Services as it is now called.

University Farm

The Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse Farm has an area of 150 hectares of land. The Farm has the following units:

  1. Cattle Production Unit
  2. Crop Production Unit
  3. Fish Production Unit
  4. Plant Nursery Unit
  5. Poultry Unit
  6. Small Ruminants Unit
  7. Students’ Farm Unit

The University Farm was established in 2011 to serve the faculty in teaching and research. Experiments and further trainings are provided for students in all aspects of agriculture. The farm is expected to provide extension services in all areas of agriculture. The University Farm is headed by a Farm Manager who is assisted by Unit Heads.

The Farm Manager co-ordinates the day-to-day activities and smooth running of all the units of the farm. The farm operates through committees and sub-committees at both the Faculty and Farm Management levels respectively. The Vice Chancellor is the Chairman of the Faculty Farm Advisory Committee, while the Heads of Departments serve as Chairmen of their respective Departmental Farm Committees.

Agricultural Incubation Center (AIC)

The Agricultural Incubation Center (AIC) is a Centre under the Faculty of Agriculture which is headed by a Coordinator. The AIC was established 2019 and was commissioned in 2020 by the then Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono. The Center is very much equipped with modern machineries in processing agricultural product. The Center is saddled with provision of training particularly in the areas of post harvest and technologies.

The Faculty has grown over time and now we have about 100 academic staffs among which are only 4 Professors. The number of admitted students at the commencement of the Faculty of Agriculture was 22, however the number of students admitted in the Faculty has continued to swell over time. There are now close to 2000 students now in the Faculty undertaking their first degree including Masters and PhD students in various areas of specialization in agriculture.

Past Deans

Former Deans and Present Dean of the Faculty

S/No. Name Period
1. Professor Abubakar Musa Kundiri 2011 – 2015
2. Professor Abubakar Umar Kibon 2015 – 2016
3. Dr Auwal Abdulhamid 2016 – 2018
4. Dr Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali 2018 – 2021
5. Dr Bashir Garba Muktar 2021 – 2023
6. Professor Usman Adamu Izge 2023 – Date

Staff

List of Staff in the Office of the Dean

S/No. Name Qualification Rank
1. Professor Usman Adamu Izge PhD Professor/Dean
2. Zainab Adamu Kaila MPPA Snr. Assistant Registrar/Faculty Officer
3. Muhammed Ruqayya I. MPA Principal Confidential Secretary
4. Junaidu Mohammed MPA Assistant Registrar
5. Muhammad Saadu Barwa NCE Principal Executive Officer
6. Suleiman Garba SSCE Senior Clerical Officer
7. Ibrahim Muazu SSCE Senior Clerical Officer
8. Muhammad Sulaiman Danbirni SSCE Office Attendant II
9. Amadu Adamu SSCE Head Gardener

 

Back To Top