The Gombe state government has approved N1.12 billion to fasttrack take-off of the Faculty of Agriculture in the Gombe State University.

Mr Muhammad Shettima, Commissioner for Higher Education, said this at the end of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, on Wednesday in Gombe.

He said the council approved the take-over of Government Secondary School, Malam-Sidi in Kwami Local Government Area, as the structure for the newly established faculty.

Shettima said the gesture aligned with Gov. Inuwa Yahaya administration commitment to advance educational research and sustainable development.

He said the state and its neighbours were facing agricultural challenges that necessitated the establishment of the faculty to contribute towards addressing agriculture-related issues.

“The council approved N1.12 billion as first year operational expenses for the establishment and commencement of academic programmes in key agriculture disciplines,’’ he said.

According to Shettima,  the new faculty will have four departments with 10 programmes including Agricultural and Animal Sciences; Agric-economics and Extension, Crop and Soil Sciences, Fisheries and Wildlife Management.