From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the upgrade of Niger State College of Education to Niger State University of Education effective Thursday, 28th September,2023.
Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, made this known during a visit of Niger State governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, to the headquarters of the Commission, on Thursday, in Abuja.
The acting NUC boss said the new university was approved following the presentation of relevant documents, including the gazetted University’s law, academic brief and masterplan.
Maiyaki, who read a letter conveying the approval to the governor and his delegation, said the institution initially secured conditional recognition as a university of education in 2013, but some of the conditions requested by NUC were not met by the successive administrations in Niger State, until the coming on board of Governor Bago.
He said with the new development, Niger State University of Education is now fully recognized as the 63rd state-owned university in Nigeria. He also recalled that Niger State University of Education, Minna, was recognized as a duly established university in the Nigerian University System (NUS) by the National Universities Commission.
Maiyaki said that relevant government agencies, notably, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others would be duly informed of the new status of the institution.
He, however, urged the governor to uplift the facilities in the new university, stressing that NUC is fully ready to provide the necessary guidance to ensure the institution lives up to expectations.
Earlier, the Niger governor in his remarks said the visit was to congratulate Maiyaki on his new position as acting Executive Secretary of NUC as well as shared his passion for the massive development of the education sector in the state.
He said: “In 2013, my predecessor visited NUC with a request to convert Niger State College of Education, Minna, to university of Education. But somewhere along the line, it became a mirage. But with the guidance of Professor Yahaya Kuta, we have come to rekindle that ambition.
“Secondly, the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University, Lapai, is also desirous and has applied to offer Medical courses. We want to appeal to you (acting NUC Executive Secretary) to expedite the approvals necessary so we can have the full curriculum for medical studies.
“Thirdly, the Federal College of Education in Kontogora is supposed to be a university of education too, we want to see that become a fruition. The Federal Polytechnic in Bida is also desirous to be a degree awarding institution, and a lot of private initiatives have been coming too.”
On funding for the new university, Governor Bago said with the coming into force of education trust fund law in the state, such an issue would not pose a problem. “Niger state just passed a law on an education trust fund, every contract of government, every transaction within the state is charged one per cent for the education fund,” he said.