The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted provisional licence to the Imo State University Of Science and Technology, Umuna.
In a brief ceremony held in the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma appreciated the NUC for granting their request.
TheFact Daily gathered that the university project had been abandoned by the Rochas Okorocha government due to paucity of funds.
“It is indeed a very big honour for me, the opportunity to show gratitude to the management and staff of the NUC for acceding to our request, recognizing formally the University of Innovation Science and Technology Umuna.
“In our quest to broaden education and create a wider access to our growing youth population, it also act as a measure of engaging our youth population into building a very excellent career and character for themselves, we decided to embark on this new platform, a university that will encourage the acquisition of digital skills, innovation, science and technology for our young population so that at the end of the day, they support the growth of our economy”, he said.
The Governor added that, “this recognition today is for me a prayer answered, that our young men and women who have been struggling hard to have access to admission into a commendable and reputable university or tertiary intinstitution have also won this race.
He disclosed that the University was in partnership with Imo Digital City and also a mentoring agreement with the University of Berkeley in California.
“The whole idea is to broaden a digital curriculum that would create startups. Young entrepreneurs who will not only go to school to be employed but go, graduate and as they graduate, they are coming out to also create jobs, and become employers of labour.
“I am very grateful to the Executive Secretary and his team, and to NUC as a body for really granting this formal recognition to all of us, including members of my cabinet who worked hard to see it come true, I am indeed very grateful”, he said.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu noted that the occasion was a testament to Imo state’s commitment to education as well as a reflection of a collective resolve to expand access to quality university education for all Nigerians.
“The National Universities Commission remains dedicated to ensuring that our higher education sector meets the highest standards of academic excellence and the approval of this university shall be in line with our mandate to regulate and maintain quality assurance in the Nigerian university system.
“Imo State has a rich and evolving higher education landscape, with institutions that drive academic excellence, research and community development. The state is home to seven notable universities currently, two federal, three state and two private, along with several other tertiary institutions”, he said.
According to Prof. Ribadu, the establishment of the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Umuna as the state’s fourth university was a bold and strategic step that reflects their strong commitment to empowering the youth, developing the workforce and promoting knowledge-driven growth across Imo State.
“As we celebrate this achievement, I call on all stakeholders, including government officials, university administrators, staff and students, to work together to ensure that the institution flourishes and upholds the highest standards of academic integrity.
It should also uphold good research, research excellence and good governance”, he said.
The Executive Secretary further stated that it was a shared responsibility to ensure that the new university, the 301st in the Nigerian University System becomes not just another addition to the list of universities, but a true centre of learning, character building and societal transformation.
