Education

Tinubu upgrades Federal Polytechnic to specialised university

Published

3 months ago

July 11, 2026

Tinubu upgrades Federal Polytechnic to specialised university

President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa into the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa, in a major boost to technical education, mining research and Nigeria’s drive to unlock the full economic potential of its solid minerals sector.

The approval, announced on Friday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, marks another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition higher education to meet the country’s industrial, technological and economic development needs.

According to the Presidency, the decision followed a proposal by Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, for the establishment of a specialised federal university that would leverage Nasarawa State’s vast mineral deposits to produce highly skilled professionals capable of driving innovation and sustainable development in the mining industry.

President Tinubu said the new university would become a national centre of excellence dedicated to teaching, research, innovation and manpower development in critical fields such as mining engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, manufacturing, geosciences, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, robotics and other emerging technologies that are shaping the future of global industrialisation.

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He said the institution would play a strategic role in producing the skilled workforce needed to support Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in the mining sector, promote value addition to the country’s abundant mineral resources and reduce dependence on imported technical expertise.

The President noted that the conversion aligns with the objectives of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on education, innovation, industrialisation, economic diversification and human capital development as pillars of sustainable national growth.

According to him, Nigeria’s vast deposits of lithium, gold, limestone, tin, columbite and several other strategic minerals present enormous opportunities for economic transformation, but these opportunities can only be fully realised through investments in education, research and technology.

“The establishment of this specialised university will strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to develop indigenous expertise in mining and engineering while supporting innovation, industrial growth and sustainable management of the nation’s mineral resources,” the Presidency stated.

To ensure a seamless transition, President Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant government agencies to begin the legal, administrative and regulatory processes required to transform the polytechnic into a fully operational federal university.

The transition is expected to include curriculum expansion, accreditation of degree programmes, recruitment of additional academic and non-academic staff, upgrading of laboratories and research facilities, as well as the establishment of governance structures in line with the standards of the National Universities Commission.

The approval comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to reposition the solid minerals sector as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy through increased investment, local processing of mineral resources and technological innovation.

In recent months, the Federal Government has launched several initiatives aimed at strengthening mining education and research, including the Mining Technology and Resource Innovation UniPod at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The initiative is designed to transform Nigerian universities into innovation hubs capable of supporting industrialisation, research commercialisation and entrepreneurship in the mining sector.

The approval also follows the recent commissioning of one of Africa’s largest lithium processing plants in Nasarawa State, a project expected to enhance local value addition, create employment opportunities and position Nigeria as a key player in the global critical minerals value chain.

Education experts say the establishment of the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa will significantly expand access to specialised higher education while strengthening research, innovation and collaboration between academia, government and industry.

The new institution is also expected to attract local and international partnerships, encourage investment in advanced research and produce graduates with the technical skills required to meet the growing demands of Nigeria’s mining, manufacturing, engineering and technology sectors.

Stakeholders have described the conversion as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, noting that specialised universities remain critical to achieving the country’s long-term goals of industrialisation, job creation, technological advancement and economic diversification.

With the presidential approval now secured, the Federal Government is expected to commence the appointment of principal officers, establish the university’s governing council and complete other transitional arrangements necessary for the institution to begin operations as the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa.

The development is expected to further strengthen Nasarawa State’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading mining hubs while providing students with expanded opportunities to acquire world-class education and practical skills in disciplines that are central to the country’s economic future.

Tinubu upgrades Federal Polytechnic to specialised university

Education

Cross River Seals 58 Schools in Crackdown on Unapproved Education Centres

Published

6 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Cross Rivers Commissioner for Education, Stephen Odey

Cross River Seals 58 Schools in Crackdown on Unapproved Education Centres

The Cross River State Government has shut down 58 unapproved schools in an intensified statewide crackdown on institutions operating without the mandatory Approval to Operate (ATO), warning proprietors against reopening without official authorisation.

The enforcement exercise, being conducted by the state Ministry of Education through its Department of Quality Assurance, targets schools that have failed to meet the regulatory requirements for operating nursery, primary and secondary educational institutions.

The Commissioner for Education, Stephen Odey, said the exercise was aimed at enforcing education standards, protecting pupils and students, and ensuring that schools operate within the state’s approved regulatory framework.

The government said the inspections would continue across Cross River State’s 18 local government areas as authorities work to identify unapproved institutions and ensure compliance with existing regulations.

Odey warned that schools sealed during the operation must not resume activities until they have obtained the necessary approval from the relevant authorities. He also cautioned proprietors against violating closure orders, saying offenders could face further sanctions.

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According to the state government, the enforcement campaign is not intended to victimise school owners but to ensure that all educational institutions meet the minimum requirements for safe and effective teaching and learning.

Among the schools identified in the government’s October 10 announcement were Impact Group of Schools, Gospel Beacon Academy and Divvy Bliss Schools in Calabar Municipality.

Others included Warriors Seed Academy, Children of Promise Christian School and Future Amazing International Schools in Calabar South.

In Odukpani Local Government Area, the government listed De-Royal Academy School, Maria Assumpta Nursery/Primary School and Success Kids Nursery/Primary School among the affected institutions.

Five schools were also identified in Akamkpa Local Government Area: Creative Brain International School, St. Luck’s Anglican Nursery/Primary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Hot Brain Academy and Armour Christian International School.

The latest closures followed earlier enforcement exercises announced by the government during the week. On October 9, authorities reported identifying 15 schools operating without approval in Calabar Municipality, Odukpani and Yakurr. On October 8, another nine schools were reported shut in Calabar Municipality, while 14 schools were identified in Calabar South on October 7.

The successive operations form part of the government’s effort to strengthen school regulation and quality assurance across the state. However, the individual batches should not be added together without a consolidated list confirming that no school has been counted more than once.

The government has urged proprietors of affected schools to approach the appropriate authorities to regularise their operations and obtain the necessary approvals before reopening.

Parents and guardians have also been encouraged to verify the approval status of schools attended by their children to ensure that the institutions comply with the state’s requirements.

The closures could disrupt learning for pupils and students whose schools have been affected, particularly where families need to find alternative institutions. The government has not provided a consolidated public list of all 58 schools in the reports reviewed or announced a common reopening date for the affected institutions.

The crackdown follows an earlier warning issued by the state government in August 2025, when it announced plans to close unapproved nursery, primary and secondary schools from September of that year.

The state government has maintained that compliance with school approval requirements is necessary to uphold educational standards and ensure that institutions operate within the law.

Cross River Seals 58 Schools in Crackdown on Unapproved Education Centres

Education

FG Releases Eight-Month Arrears After SSANU Strike Threat

Published

3 days ago

October 7, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Releases Eight-Month Arrears After SSANU Strike Threat

The Federal Government has released eight months’ salary arrears owed members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), less than 48 hours after the union issued a 14-day ultimatum threatening an indefinite strike.

SSANU had issued the ultimatum over the implementation of the 2026 FGN/SSANU Agreement and demanded payment of outstanding entitlements, warning that failure to act would lead to a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action.”

The union’s demands included payment of outstanding Consolidated University Teaching and Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTTA) arrears calculated from January 1, 2026.

It also demanded payment of two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action, as well as one-year arrears arising from the approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.

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Confirming the release, SSANU National President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, said members would begin receiving alerts reflecting the payment.

Ibrahim commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for intervening in the matter and facilitating the release of the funds.

However, the payment does not resolve all of the union’s outstanding demands. SSANU has maintained that the government must settle the remaining arrears and ensure full implementation of the 2026 agreement.

The development has nevertheless eased an immediate threat of disruption in the Nigerian university system, coming just days after the union warned of a nationwide industrial action.

SSANU has urged affected members to liaise with their respective university managements to ensure that the released funds are properly and promptly paid.

The latest development comes amid continuing concerns over university workers’ salaries, arrears and welfare, as well as the implementation of agreements between the Federal Government and university-based unions.

FG Releases Eight-Month Arrears After SSANU Strike Threat

Education

Why JAMB Is Taking UTME To Canada — Registrar Explains

Published

4 days ago

October 6, 2026

Trends Admin

JAMB Registrar Professor Segun Aina

Why JAMB Is Taking UTME To Canada — Registrar Explains

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has explained why it is taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to Canada, saying the move is aimed at expanding access to Nigerian tertiary education rather than making money.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, said the board is working to establish a UTME examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027 to enable eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit the examination without travelling to Nigeria solely for the exercise.

The planned centre followed Aina’s visit to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, where discussions were held on arrangements for conducting the examination.

JAMB said the initiative is part of its effort to make the Nigerian university admission system more accessible to Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those seeking admission into universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“For Nigerians in Canada, the UTME is coming closer to home,” the board said while announcing the plan.

However, the decision has generated questions over the likely number of candidates who would use the centre and whether establishing an examination facility in Canada would be financially viable.

Responding to such concerns, Aina said the number of candidates was not the primary consideration for establishing foreign examination centres.

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He explained that JAMB currently conducts the UTME in about 10 foreign countries as a service to improve access to education, adding that the board also conducts examinations in correctional service centres for the same reason.

According to the registrar, Nigerians relocate abroad for different reasons, while children of Nigerian public servants posted overseas may also need to sit the UTME without returning to the country specifically for the examination.

Aina said the absence of a JAMB examination centre in North America had previously made it difficult for prospective candidates in the region to participate in the UTME locally.

He added that JAMB does not necessarily need to acquire or rent a permanent building or employ a new workforce to establish the Ottawa centre.

The registrar explained that the board works with Nigerian diplomatic missions in countries where it conducts overseas examinations, using temporary spaces within high commission premises and relying on diplomatic mission staff to assist with the exercise.

Aina also said no money had been spent on the proposed Canadian centre so far.

He explained that his visit to Canada coincided with a conference and that he used the opportunity to initiate discussions with the Nigerian High Commission about the proposed examination arrangement.

JAMB‘s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, also defended the initiative, saying more than 100 prospective candidates in Canada had already indicated interest in sitting the examination there.

The proposed Ottawa centre is expected to serve eligible Nigerians in Canada as well as those in other parts of North America who wish to gain admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

JAMB said the move would reduce the barriers faced by Nigerians abroad and strengthen their connection with the country’s education system.

The board also said the initiative would provide an opportunity to showcase Nigerian tertiary education internationally and create more pathways for Nigerians in the diaspora to pursue higher education in Nigeria.

The proposed JAMB Canada centre is expected to commence operations with the 2027 UTME.