The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba as the 62nd state universities and the 265th universities in the country.
The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed made this known in Abuja on Monday when the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, paid him a visit.
Rasheed said that the commission in June 19, received a letter on the former presentation on gazetted documents establishing the university from the state.
”I write on behalf of the NUC to inform his excellency that with effect from June 26, 2023, Kogi State University, Kabba has been established as the 62nd state universities and 265th university in Nigeria.
”NUC pledges it’s support to the university as we urge you to take full advantage of the university.
”By this, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are being notified of the establishment of the university,” he said.
Rasheed also informed the media of his voluntary stepping down from office to enable him return to the classroom to continue teaching.
Meanwhile, Gov. Yayaya Bello said that the university would be cited in the Kogi West Senatorial District of the state for fairness, equity and justice of the people.
Bello said that the university was put in place to satisfy the age-long desire of the Okun people in the state.
He said the state had set out modalities to ensure the university start on a good note as resources had been set aside for the take-off of the university.
”In Kogi State, education is our heritage and education is what we are proud of both within the state, across the country and globally.
”When I came on board, we have only one university. We ran to the commission and we established the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.
”But something is necessary because we have a senatorial district in Kogi West because we are desirous of fairness, equity and justice to ensure every part of the state is carried along.
”We deem it necessary for our brothers in Okun land who are proud of over 600 professors and the place is still lacking a university, so we decided to establish the university immediately,” he said.
He, therefore, said that the establishment of the university was beyond politics as would be insinuated in some quarters but to address the educational desire of the people.
