The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted recognition to a new higher institution in Ebonyi State, named Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, located in Oferekpe.
This development makes it the 66th state university in Nigeria and the 278th institution in the Nigerian University System.
On Thursday, the NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, presented the letter of recognition to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru. He stated that copies of the letter would be forwarded to key educational agencies, including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Prof. Ribadu, however, clarified that academic activities at the institution would only begin after the necessary assessments are completed.
“The reason for the establishment of this university is to ramp up the access to quality and affordable tertiary education, particularly for the State indigenes and grant everyone the opportunity to tertiary education in order to address the needed technological manpower requirements of the State in particular and the Nation in general, especially now that the World is fast-changing because of the tech-driven phenomenon,” he said.
Nwifuru added, “The need for adequate funding for sustainability of institutions of this magnitude is never lost on us as a government. And I want to assure you that Ebonyi State, under my leadership will ensure that adequate budgetary provisions, in both capital and recurrent expenditures, are made available on a sustainable basis, in order to guarantee the academic growth, relevance and quality assurance of this nascent institution.
“On the gradual take-off of this university, I want to further inform the Executive Secretary that the State Government has already injected critical mass of funds towards the construction of some strategic buildings on the university campus at Oferekpe, Agbaja, Izzi LGA. As of today, the following structures, like the Senate Building, the Staff Quarters, the Students’ Hostels, the Faculty Buildings, the University Library, etc are at various stages of completion.”
The verification process will involve inspecting the university’s infrastructure, classrooms, library, staffing, and other essential facilities. Once the inspection is completed and the requirements are met, the institution will receive the green light to commence academic operations.
Governor Francis Nwifuru expressed his gratitude for the recognition and outlined the purpose behind the establishment of the university. According to him, the primary goal is to provide access to quality and affordable tertiary education, especially for the indigenes of Ebonyi State, while addressing the state’s technological manpower needs in a rapidly evolving world.
“We want to say on the part of the Commission, that we are ready and willing to support this young university. However, we need to indicate that giving a recognition letter is not equated with starting or commencement of academic activities. We will still have to undertake what is called resource verification.
“The Commission will visit when the university is ready, it will invite the Commission to go and look at the state of affairs, to look at the infrastructure, to look at the classrooms, look at the library, look at the staffing.
“After that, the Commission will give the go-ahead for the commencement of academic activities. It is pertinent to note that this university becomes the 66th state university,” he said.
