The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated the Governing Councils and Principal Officers of four newly established federal universities, reaffirming its commitment to expanding access to quality higher education across Nigeria.
The institutions include the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho, Oyo State; the Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe, Zamfara State; Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano; and the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the establishment of the universities as a strategic intervention by the Tinubu administration to tackle pressing national challenges such as food security, public health, climate change, renewable energy, and technological innovation.
“This is not just an expansion of Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape. It is a deliberate, strategic response to the urgent and interconnected challenges confronting our nation and the world,” Alausa said.
He explained that the siting of the universities was deliberate: Okeho, in the agriculturally rich South-West, was chosen for its farming potential, while Tsafe, in Zamfara, was selected to strengthen health and education infrastructure in the North-West.
The minister urged the newly inaugurated councils and principal officers to provide visionary leadership, uphold merit, safeguard university autonomy, and lay strong institutional foundations. He also reaffirmed government’s readiness, in partnership with TETFund and development agencies, to provide infrastructure, strengthen research, and drive reforms in quality assurance, autonomy, and performance-based funding.
Sen. Yakubu Oseni, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho, pledged to work with stakeholders to transform the institution into a hub for agricultural innovation and technological advancement. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and assured that the Council’s work would align with the administration’s vision for strengthening Nigeria’s education system.
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