Southern Kaduna’s First Federal Varsity Takes Off 2025, Minister Assures

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has pledged that the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State, will commence academic activities by September 2025.

Alausa made this pledge when the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, handed over the certificate of occupancy of the institution covering 270 hectares of land to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We have also made a commitment to the Governor and the Senator that this university will admit the first set of students this academic year of 2025. And I don’t have any doubt. His Excellency, please be rest assured, that the students will start this year. I will make sure that the university also gets its Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocation this year as well,” the minister pledged.

Alausa expressed his joy at the development, stating that the university will offer courses in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, applied sciences, and more.

“When I heard about it (the courses), I was so happy. It fitted into our own plan. One of the number one six-focus areas that we identify as part of our National Educational Sector, is Renewal Initiative, STEM.

“Advancing and expanding STEM; Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical services. Thank you for contributing to expanding our number one priority area,” he said.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had recently directed that the privately owned Nok University in Kachia, Kaduna State, be transformed into a Federal University.

The directive follows an FCT Federal High Court ruling to finalise the forfeiture of the University to the Federal Government.

The private institution was renamed the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State, also in fulfilment of a promise made by President Tinubu to the people of Southern Kaduna.

Reminiscing on how the university came to be, the minister said, “Everybody knows the story of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia Southern Kaduna. The Vice President, Kashim Shetima, worked night and day to get us to where we are today. Worked with the Governor, worked with the Senator, Bishop Kukah and several community leaders in Southern Kaduna.”

Speaking during the handover, Governor Sani thanked President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and the Minister of Education for their unwavering commitment and support.

“We believe that science is something that is very important, very critical for the development of Kaduna. Our President is someone who believes in education, and that is why we are sitting here today,” he said.

The university is expected to enhance the capacity of Nigerians in various fields, and its establishment is seen as a significant step towards advancing education in the country.

Governor Sani noted, “Education is very important. It’s the only thing you can give to everyone, both the children of the poor and the rich, for them to have something in their lives.”

Earlier, a senator representing Kaduna South, Sunday Marshall Katung thanked the minister, the governor, and other stakeholders for their roles in actualizing the goal of a university in Southern Kaduna.

Katung, who had sponsored the bill for the establishment of the university said, “I must single out my Governor for the role he has played so far, even in keeping his promise to bring forth this certificate of occupancy for the university today. This is another first of its kind, and to this, I say kudos to our hardworking and industrious Governor.”

Southern Kaduna’s First Federal Varsity Takes Off 2025, Minister Assures is first published on The Whistler Newspaper