Tinubu approves upgrade of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa to Specialised University following Wadada’s proposal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, into the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa.

This the presidency said is in a major boost to the country’s technical education sector and efforts to harness Nigeria’s vast solid mineral resources

The approval, announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed a proposal sponsored by the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada.

According to Onanuga, Senator Wadada had urged the Federal Government to transform the institution into a specialised university dedicated to mining and engineering, arguing that Nasarawa State’s rich mineral deposits make it an ideal location for a centre focused on developing the skilled manpower required to drive Nigeria’s mining industry.

With the presidential approval, the institution will be repositioned as a specialised university offering teaching, research and innovation in mining, engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, manufacturing, and other emerging technologies.

The new university is also expected to play a strategic role in producing professionals capable of advancing value addition in the solid minerals sector, promoting industrial innovation and supporting the sustainable development of Nigeria’s natural resources.

The Presidency described the decision as part of President Tinubu’s broader reform agenda to align higher education with national economic priorities by establishing specialised institutions that address critical manpower needs in key sectors of the economy.

To ensure a seamless transition, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other relevant agencies to immediately commence the legal, regulatory and administrative processes required to implement the upgrade.