Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has announced that his administration has allocated N20 billion in the 2024 budget for the establishment of the Niger State University of Education.
Bago made this known on Saturday in Minna, the state capital, while inaugurating a committee to oversee the smooth take-off of the university.
The governor said the university would operate alongside the existing state college of education in Minna, and would not affect its programmes.
He charged the committee to work diligently and avoid bureaucratic delays in carrying out its mandate.
According to the governor Bago, the committee’s terms of reference include developing a transition programme for the full take-off of the university, determining the financial and infrastructural needs of the university in line with the university laws and the National University Commission (NUC) guidelines, and articulating project development implementations that would involve community and private sector participation.
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The committee is also expected to assess the manpower requirements for the university and fill the gap for the state college of education through the master plan, among other tasks.
The governor further revealed that his administration is working on proposals for the establishment of three other universities in the state, namely the University of Agriculture in Mokwa, the University of Energy and Renewable Energy in Shiroro, and the University of Medicine in Suleja. He said this is part of his vision to make Niger State a hub of education in the country.
The chairman of the committee, Mohammed Yahaya, who is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and assured him that the committee would do its best to ensure that the university becomes one of the best in the country.