The Establishment of the Institution has solved About 60% of Southern Kaduna’s Problems – Kukah
The Nigerian Government has said that the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, will commence operations with a comprehensive budget allocation, rather than relying on an initial take-off grant.
This is even as it announced the conversion of General Hospital Kafanchan to Federal Medical Centre to serve as teaching hospital for the university.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa stated this on Friday in Abuja while inaugurating the Governing Council and Principal Officers of Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah was also inaugurated as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the institution.
The institution which was formerly known as Nok University, was renamed the Federal University of Applied Sciences after the Federal Government took over its assets.
Dr. Alausa encouraged the newly appointed officials to leverage their combined expertise to transform the university into a premier institution renowned for academic excellence and innovative research, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also urged Bishop Kukah and others to provide visionary leadership and lay a solid foundation for the institution to grow as it prepares to commence admission of its first cohort of students in September 2025.
“You’re not starting with a take-off grant. The President, the Vice-President and every other people that have worked behind the scenes have ensured that you have a budget that has been appropriated in this 2025 budget. You have a robust personnel budget that has been appropriated, robust overhead costs as well as your capital budget.
“So you are not starting like any other university that would be approving and giving take-off grants. You are in charge, you’re privileged”.
While urging the Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers to work hard to meet the university’s goals and aspirations, the Minister said the establishment of the university is a deliberate effort by the President to stimulate development in Southern Kaduna and promote equality and fairness across the country.
The university’s creation, he emphasised, was part of broader educational reforms, which include a focus on technical and vocational training, STEM education, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and promoting girl-child education.
Responding on behalf of other appointees, Bishop Kukah said the establishment of the institution has solved about 60 per cent of Southern Kaduna’s problems.
While attributing the realisation of the institution to God’s intervention, the cleric was optimistic that Nigeria would overcome its challenges.
He said: “Nigeria may have its own problems and will continue to have its own problems, but I can assure you, Honourable Minister, that 60 per cent of the problems of Southern Kaduna now have been solved.
“We will not look back, because if God wanted us to look back, he would have given us at least one eye at the back of our head. We have, and we know absolutely no bitterness. We are, despite everything else, still one of the most educated parts of the whole of Northern Nigeria.
“Today, Southern Kaduna has no less than over 200 professors. The education that we have had, that has brought us so far, that people like me benefited from, the education that came from the missionaries. But I want to assure you that by locating this University of Applied Sciences, you have presented tools to us. And I want to assure you that we will do everything that is humanly possible. Don’t be disappointed, Mr. President”.
Also speaking, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, who graced the event, pledged that the Nigerian military will provide robust security for the university, ensuring a safe environment for students and staff.
Gen Musa was upbeat that the university will become a beacon of excellence, promoting unity and fostering a sense of national pride among Nigerians in the region.
