From a very humble background, he trekked 7km daily to school in Mafa, in Borno State and covered same distance to help his father, a peasant farmers on his farm.
He paid his secondary education and National Diploma (ND) were self sponsored. He attended Unimaid for B.Agric working as commercial taxi and farm produce driver, still cldnt afford hostel accommodation.
Prof. Zulum extended his commercial driving trade to Lagos, precisely at Alaba-Rago to raise his tuition fees for MSc program, 3weeks after resumption. He returned to Maiduguri for his PhD program, moved through the ranks until his appointment as Professor in 2014.
Zulum had more than enough family challenges that he couldn’t afford to built a house of his own but lived in rented apartment until recently. He returned to his rickety car after office as Provost, Ramat Poly, Maiduguri.
In 2015, Zulum was appointed pioneer Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement by Shettima, who told a gathering in Maiduguri last week that one of his attractions to Zulum was the fact that despite being in control of billions of naira for reconstruction of thousands of homes, schools and hospitals, “[He] neither bought a personal house nor a personal car for himself. He also came under attack from Boko Haram twice, but didn’t stop in his efforts to rebuild substantial parts of Borno.
The State and the Party got him a house and car after he emerged as the party flag bearer of APC, and to this humble and very trustworthy Prof, nothing has changed. “All offices are temporal as days of democratic offices are numbered before our emergence, why the excesses.”
Congratulations Prof. Umara Zulum, may the Lord ease your new tasks, guide and guard you. May your administration witness peace and progress for the good people of Borno State.
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