Niger State College of Education Now A University 

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has upgraded the Niger State College of Education to a University of Education thereby completing a process started almost 10 years ago by former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

The certificate confirming the upgrade was given to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago by the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Mr. Chris Maiyaki.

Governor Bago who expressed delight at the upgrade, observe that “there is a deficit in educational facilities”, hence, his administration is desirous of making Niger State “the Massachusetts of Nigeria” before assuring that “funding the university will not be a problem” because  “an Education Trust Fund law is already in place mandating one per cent of every state government contract to go into the Trust Fund.

He expressed hope that the upgrade of the Federal College of Education Kontagora to a University of Education already signed by former President Mohammadu Buhari will soon come to fruition.

Bago lamented the huge number of graduates without vocational skills but said his administration will address the situation speedily.

In his remarks, the acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Mr. Mayaki, congratulated the Niger State Governor for the revalidation and completion of the process of establishing the State University of Education.