President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, in Kano State into the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo.

The institution, established in 2022, now becomes the third federal university in the state, joining Bayero University Kano and the recently upgraded Federal University of Education, named after the late Yusuf Maitama Sule. Kano also hosts two state-owned universities.

The development comes amid growing concerns over the funding of existing public tertiary institutions and the proliferation of new ones.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, who sponsored the bill, commended President Tinubu for assenting to the legislation.

During Tuesday’s Senate plenary, the president’s correspondences regarding the establishment of new universities in Kano, Akwa Ibom, and Oyo states were read on the floor.

Senator Barau, in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, said the conversion aligns with global best practices in education and aims to enhance access to higher education.

“The establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, reflects the President’s commitment to equipping Nigerian youths with essential skills in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and cybersecurity,” he said.