Don backs proposed federal applied sciences varsity in Southern Kaduna

Professor John Laah, a geography lecturer at Kaduna State University (KASU) and Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Professors Forum (SKPF), has called for support for the establishment of the proposed Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Southern Kaduna, urging critics to set aside their opposition.

Laah said that the university would benefit all Nigerians, not just the local population, and commended Senator Sunday Marshall Katung for initiating the bill. He expressed hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would soon sign it into law.

Representing Southern Kaduna Professors, Laah stated that the new university would inherit the existing infrastructure of a private university in Kachia, imposing no extra burden on the Federal Government.

He noted that the forum, which covers 12 local governments in Southern Kaduna, comprises 186 professors, all from the region.

Laah recounted the advocacy efforts in 2018 under Senator Danjuma Laah, who initially proposed a Federal University of Science and Technology in Manchok. However, the bill was not passed. He praised Senator Marshall for picking up the challenge and introducing the bill for the Federal University of Applied Sciences.

“Once approved, this will be the first and only Federal University of Applied Sciences in Nigeria,” he clarified.

The university, according to Laah, is not intended to be a “Southern Kaduna University” but a “Federal University,” with its location in the region addressing its need for development, particularly for its unemployed youth. Laah stressed that the university would provide productive engagement for the youth and help curb social vices.

He further highlighted that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had raised no objections to the establishment of the university, unlike previous proposals. Extensive consultations had been held, and the response had been overwhelmingly positive.

Laah explained that the decision to locate the university in Kachia, instead of Manchok, was driven by necessity. Kachia’s existing infrastructure, including five faculties at the former Nok University, would reduce costs and facilitate the establishment of the new institution. He also pointed out Kachia’s better security and its status as the hub of ginger production, which could spur agricultural research and innovation.

Laah made it clear that the university would not serve only Southern Kaduna but would contribute to the development of the entire country. “This is not about an individual; it is about the development of the region and the nation,” he said.

Laah stressed the need for more universities in Nigeria, given the growing student population and limited spaces in existing institutions. He warned that with Nigeria projected to become the third most populous country by 2050, the country must expand its university system to meet the needs of its youth.

Laah reiterated the commitment of Southern Kaduna professors to the university’s establishment and expressed confidence in its potential to provide education, reduce unemployment, and promote regional development.