Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said N20 billion will be included in the 2024 budget for the take-off of the Niger State University of Education.
The governor stated this at Government House, Minna, after he inaugurated the implementation committee earlier set up by the government for the take-off of the university.
Governor Bago urged the committee to shun too much bureaucracy and stressed his administration's plans to make the state a hub of education.
He disclosed that proposals were also on the ground for the establishment of the University of Agriculture Mokwa, the University of Energy and Renewable Energy to be located in Shiroro, as well as the University of Medicine, Suleja.
The governor also explained that the takeover of the university of education will not prevent the College of Education (COE) from running its programmes, explaining that the COE will be operating under the university.
Also, the committee was mandated to articulate project development implementations that will require community and private sector participation and to determine new prospects for manpower requirements.
Chairman of the implementation committee and former secretary to the state government (SSG), Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, who spoke on behalf of other committee members, appreciated the governor for finding them worthy to serve and promised to work diligently to ensure that the university becomes one of the best in the country.
The Niger State SSG, Alh. Abubakar Usman, is the co-chairman of the committee, while the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, Dr. Abdul Hussaini, and Murtala Baba Gana are to serve as secretary and assistant secretary, respectively.
The terms of reference of the committee include developing a transition programme for the full take-off of the university and determining the financial and infrastructural requirements under the existing rules of university laws and those of the National University Commission (NUC).
Highlights of the events included the presentation of the academic brief and the university law books presented to the chairman of the committee, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya.