Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, has approved the upgrade of Niger State College of Education in Minna to the University of Education.
Maiyaki announced this when Governor Mohammed Bago visited the headquarters of the commission yesterday in Abuja.
The NUC boss said the institution initially secured conditional recognition as a university of education in 2013, but successive administrations in the state could not meet the conditions until Bago assumed office.
He noted that with the new development, the Niger State University of Education is now fully recognised as the 63rd state-owned university in Nigeria.
Maiyaki said the new university was approved following the presentation of relevant documents, including the university’s gazetted law, academic brief, and master plan.
The NUC boss added that the recognition took effect from yesterday.
According to him, other relevant government agencies, like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), would be informed of the new status of the institution.
Maiyaki urged the governor to upgrade the facilities in the new university, saying the NUC was ready to provide the necessary guidance to ensure the institution lives up to expectations.
Bago assured the NUC that funding would not be a problem to the new institution with the coming into force of an Education Trust Fund law in the state.
He said: “Niger State just passed a law on Education Trust Fund. Every contract of government, every transaction within the state, is charged one per cent for the education fund”.
