The Nasarawa State University, Keffi, has announced the introduction of three new academic programmes in the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Suleiman Mohammed, said the new Colleges of Medicine, Health Sciences and Engineering would commence in the 2021/2022 academic session.
Mohammed stated this when he led other management of the university to the state House of Assembly Committee on Education on the institution’s 2021 budget assessment in Lafia on Monday.
Zakka Yakubu, Emmanuel Alidzi and Mohammed Bala, as well as the State Accountant General, Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Finance and Education, were present during the oversight function.
The vice chancellor said that the arrangement for the take off of the programmes has reached advanced stage with the target of next academic session.
“The establishment of College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Faculty of Engineering are scheduled to take off in the 2021/2022 academic session.
“As top class academicians and industry players/professionals were appointed into steering committees for the take-off of the programmes,” he said.
Mr Mohammed also appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for giving adequate attention to the university.
He, however, identified the challenges facing the university to include insufficient funding for staff salaries, unremitted funds by various channel of school fees collections and insufficient budget provision.
The vice chancellor assured of his continued determination to ensure that high standard of education was maintained in the institution for the overall development of the sector, the state and nation at large.
Earlier, Daniel Ogazi, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, said that the committee invited the institution in order to appraise its 2021 budget performance.
“Also to know other emerging challenges facing the institution with a view of fashioning out ways to address them,” he said.
Mr Ogazi pledged the assembly’s readiness to give the institution the desired attention to grow.
“Nasarawa State University is the only industry we have so far in the state.
“We will give it all the necessary support to succeed and it is on this note that we call on the state government to give the institution all the attention it deserves, especially in the area of funding,” he said.
Ogazi added that the Assembly was supporting the location of Federal University Teaching Hospital at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, considering its proximity, benefits and other advantages.
NAN
