The Federal Government has granted licence for the establishment of Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (BSUAST), Ihugu, as a new State University in Nigeria.

This brings the number of state universities to 68 and 299 federal universities in the country.

The Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, while presenting the operational licenses to the Deputy Governor of Benue , Barr Sam Odeh, who represented Governor Hyacinth Alia on Wednesday in Abuja, said this brings the number of universities in the state to five

He said the provision is not just a commitment to education but also a reflection of their resolve to expand access to quality of university education across Nigeria.

The NUC boss said establishment of BSUAST is another bold and strategic moves that will “undoubtedly empower the youth, develop the workforce and promote knowledge-driven development in the state.”

While calling on the government officials to ensure they have instructors, faculty members and students who are co-operating, he said they should ensure that the institution drives and upholds the highest understanders of technical education, research excellence and good governance.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this university does not only add the number of institutions in the country, but it stands out as a beacon of learning, character development and societal transformation,” he said.

He further said: “The National Office Commission will continue to provide the necessary guidance and support to ensure that you must have agricultural science and technology attains its full potential.”

Speaking, the Governor, gave assurances that the state would pursue the mandate of the new university with all the zeal that was required.

He further assured the Commission that in no time, the state would put in place the necessary amenities and the platforms that would enable the university get to the level of academic completion.

While noting that agriculture was the biggest industry in the state and education was in the front line as the second preoccupation of Benue indigenes, the Governor noted that the new university was aimed at responding to the agricultural needs of the state by developing programmes and projects that would match the state’s desire to enhance food production.

“Today, agricultural production cannot be done without science, technology, and innovation. The purpose for this university is to streamline the course profile and have a university that will respond directly to the challenges of agricultural production.

“The University of Agriculture, which is now the Joseph Tarka University of Agriculture, is a federal government-owned institution and so, as a state government, we don’t necessarily have a control over the academic programmes.

“But I will tell you that, for a state that has a population of over 7.5 million, with this movement, as I speak to you, we have students who desire to take a place in our universities, and they still cannot get admission. We don’t want that to continue to happen. So, this is the need for this particular university which we have created. It is going to respond directly to the needs of our people.”