The second University of Education in Nigeria, Niger State University of Education to Commence Academic Activities in September this year.
Governor Muázu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has declared that the state University of Education, an initiative of his administration, would commence academic activities in September this year.
The Niger State University of Education is the first of its kind in the northern part of Nigeria and was transmuted from Niger State College of Education.
It is also the second of such institution in the country, the first being Tai Solarin University of Education, Ikene in Ogun State.
Speaking during the inauguration of the projects ahead of the commencement of the new university, Governor Aliyu also named the Provost of the College of Education, Professor Umar Abdulrasheed, as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Education.
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Chairman, Governing Board of the College, Prof. Mohammed Daniyan, is also to be the Chancellor of the proposed university, Aliyu said, adding that their appointments were based on the records of distinctive performance by the two officers which led to the transformation of the citadel to an institution being sought after by students from across the country.
Among the projects inaugurated by Governor Aliyu which were executed from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and as well, Internally Generated Fund (IGR) included, the N500 million Introductory Technology Centre (ITC).
Other projects commissioned by the Governor are the Centre for Educational Technology (CET), 1, 000 sitting capacity lecture theatre and as well as the construction and equipment of a Micro Finance Bank and a campus FM Radio station.
He told guests at the event that the law establishing Niger State University of Education has been passed by the Niger State House of Assembly and signed into law while the nation’s university’s regulatory body, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has also been formally informed.
Niger State government has also paid for resource inspection of facilities as provided for the immediate take-off of the university in September, 2014 as a pre-condition for the National Universities Commission’s approval.
As part of streamlining its operations in conformity with mandate establishing the universities, the Governor explained that the state owned, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, would be directed to stop admitting students to Education related courses.
Also, the Faculty of Education at the IBBU Lapai would be transferred to the proposed University of Education, Minna, the Governor said as he assured of the administrations’ resolve to ensure that only qualified and resourceful staff are recruited to fill vacant positions in the new varsity.
To engage the services of qualified academic and non-academic staff, Governor Aliyu said the administration has lifted embargo on employment while all staff of the Faculty of Education, IBBU, Lapai would eventually be transferred to the new university.
Government has acquired additional 200 hectares of land to be used by the new university in the nearest future while plans were underway for the construction of a workers’ village for the benefit of both the staff of the IBBU Lapai and the University of Education, Minna.
He commended the management and staff of the College of Education for their dedication to duty and for providing the right environment for teaching and learning, saying, ‘if a leadership is right the followership will be right, and if people complain, it is because the leadership is wrong’.
