NIGER STATE UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION BECOMES THE 270Th UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA
By : Abdulkadir Yahaya
Niger State University of Education is now the 270th University in Nigeria.
The approval letter was formally presented to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago by the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja.
Governor Umaru Bago expressed gratitude to the NUC for the reactivation and approval of a process that started over a decade ago.
The Governor observed that there is a deficit in Educational facilities hence, his administration is desirous of making Niger State “the Massachusett of Nigeria”.
He assured that funding the University will not be a problem as an Education Trust Fund law is already in place mandating 1% of every State Government contract to go into the Trust Fund.
Governor Umaru Bago also used the opportunity to appeal to the NUC to expedite the approval of Medicine in the Ibrahim Babangida University Lapai for the full take-off of Medical courses in the institution.
The governor also said that he is confident that the upgrade of the Federal College of Education Kontagora to a University of Education signed by the Buhari administration will soon come to fruition.
Worried by the volume of graduates without vocational skills despite the limitless opportunities for white-collar jobs, the Governor stressed that his administration will change the narrative by establishing a hub for vocational training
The Acting Executive Secretary (E.S), of NUC, Mr Chris Mayaki congratulated the Niger State Government under the leadership of Governor Umaru Bago for revalidating and completing the process of establishing the State University of Education.
While pledging the full support of the NUC, the Acting E.S called on the State Government to utilize the advisory role of the Commission for professional and technical advice needed for sustainable funding and operation of the University.
The idea of converting the State College of Education to the University of Education was conceived by the Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu Administration in 2013, it was recognised as a duly established University in the Nigerian University System by the NUC on the 8 of May 2015.
The recognition was contingent on a formal concurrence that the next administration (now the immediate past) would retain the University by completing the process but that was not done.
However, the present administration led by Umaru Bago, on the 20th of August 2023 wrote for the revalidation of the process and completed it by presenting all relevant documents.
The State University of Education is now enlisted as the 270th University in Nigeria with effect from 28th September 2023. And this makes it the 2nd State Owned University.
