NUC elevates Niger COE to the status of university of education.
The Niger State College of Education (COE) has been renamed the Niger State University of Education by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Chris Maiyaki, the interim executive secretary of the NUC, made the announcement in Abuja on Thursday.
He stated that the upgrade would make it the 63rd state-owned institution and the 270th in Nigeria’s university system.
Maiyaki stated that universities would continue to play critical roles in national development while also complimenting Niger’s Governor, Mohammed Bago, for his vision and innovative leadership role in the lives of the state’s people.
“We are not reinventing the wheel for this university because the law was passed in 2013 but has yet to be implemented because successive administrations have failed to follow through.”
“And it was in August, shortly after taking office, that his Excellency, Mohammed Bago, with his formidable team, went through the record and rekindled the matter.”
“It should be noted that the NUC accepted Niger State University of Education as a lawfully formed university in the Nigerian University System in its letter with reference to NUC/ES31, Volume 69, dated May 8, 2015.
He stated that the commission got a letter from the Niger Government on August 20, as well as a strategic document containing relevant gazetted university statutes, an academic brief, and a physical master plan for the institution’s recognition.
“I proudly wrote on behalf of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to inform his Excellency that, as of Thursday, September 28, the recognition of Niger State University of Education has been revalidated as the 63rd state-owned university and the 270th university in the Nigerian university system.”
“The NUC hereby expresses its complete support for 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,” he stated.
As a result, he stated that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), TETFund, and NYSC would be notified of the university’s creation.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mohammed Bago stated that the state has a deficiency in education and learning, and that an additional university is necessary to solve the learning gaps.
Bago also stated that the state would establish a vocational centre where Nigerians may learn new skills.
“In 2013, our predecessor came here with the intention of converting the Niger State College of Education into a university of education, but it became a mirage somewhere along the way.”
“We’ve come to rekindle this desire.” Second, the IBB University in Lapai is interested in establishing a medical department, and we would like you to expedite approval so that we can have a full curriculum for medicine and surgery.
“We are also proposing that the Federal College of Education, Kotangora, and the Federal Polytechnics, Bida, will be degree-awarding institutions,” he stated.