Niger gets nod to establish education varsity

The committee set up by the Niger State government to examine the viability or otherwise of a state-owned university of education, has recommended that the government should go ahead with the establishment of one.

According to it, the facility will not be viable, but would contribute its quota to the educational development of the state and country.

The committee while presenting its report to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, specifically explained that if the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) at Lapai, could have over N900m unspent in its account, the university of education would be in a position to also generate enough money to take care of its activities.

The idea behind the establishment of a university of education in Minna, was conceived by the Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu-led administration, to address the shortfall in qualified teaching staff rocking primary and post primary institutions in the state, and to accommodate qualified students of the state’s origin, who are seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

On assumption of office in May last year, Bello visited the facility to assess the level of work ahead of its formal take-off.

He then said that despite the state’s dwindling resources, the government would support the take-off of the university.

Chairman of the committee and former Commissioner for Education in the state, Hajia Dije Jibrin Bala, while submitting the report, said IBBU was capable of standing on its own. He, however, suggested that government should carry out an audit account of all tertiary institutions in the state.