The National Universities Commission (NUC) has upgraded the Niger State College of Education to the Niger State University of Education.

The Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

He said the upgrading would make it the 63rd state-owned university and 270th university in the Nigerian university system.

Maiyaki, who noted that universities would continue to play a pivotal role in national development, congratulated the governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, for his vision and creative leadership role in the life of the people of the state.

The NUC boss said: “We are not reinventing the wheel for this university because the law was passed in 2013 but has not been put to conclusion because successive administrations did not follow it up.

“And it is on assumption of office that His Excellency, Mohammed Bago with his formidable team went through the record and rekindled the matter in August.

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“It would be recalled that Niger State University of Education was recognised as a duly established university in the Nigerian University System by the NUC by its letter with reference NUC/ES31, Volume 69 and dated May 8, 2015.”

He said the commission received a letter dated August 20, 2023, from the Niger State Government and a strategic document, including the relevant gazetted university laws, academic brief, and physical master plan for the recognition of the university.

“I proudly wrote on behalf of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to inform His Excellency that with effect from Thursday, September 28, the recognition of Niger State University of Education has been revalidated as the 63rd state-owned university and 270th university in the Nigerian university system.

“The NUC hereby pledges its full support to the university.

“We also enjoin the governor and the Niger government to take full advantage of the professional and technical advice that the commission statutorily requires to provide on the establishment, sustainable funding, and operational roles of the university.”

Maiyaki, therefore, said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), TETFund, and NYSC would be duly notified of the establishment of the university.

The Star