Tinubu Approves Wadada’s Proposal, Upgrades Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa to Specialised University.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Northern Bureau Chief
July 11, 2026.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, into the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa, following a proposal by Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District.
The approval marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to strengthen technical and specialised education while positioning Nigeria’s solid minerals sector as a key pillar of economic diversification.
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In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the decision reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to producing highly skilled manpower, advancing research and innovation, and unlocking the country’s vast mineral resources for sustainable national development.
According to the statement, Senator Wadada championed the establishment of the specialised university to leverage Nasarawa State’s rich mineral deposits and create a world-class institution dedicated to mining, engineering, technology, and industrial development.
The new university is expected to serve as a centre of excellence for teaching, research, innovation, and advanced professional training in mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, manufacturing, engineering, and emerging technologies. It is also expected to produce experts capable of driving value addition in Nigeria’s mining industry, promoting technological advancement, and enhancing the sustainable exploitation of the nation’s mineral wealth.
President Tinubu noted that the conversion aligns with his administration’s broader agenda of repositioning tertiary education to support economic growth, industrialisation, job creation, and global competitiveness through specialised institutions.
To facilitate a seamless transition, the President directed the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other relevant agencies to commence the necessary legal, regulatory, and administrative processes required for the formal establishment of the university in line with existing laws.
The approval has been widely described as a major boost for higher education and economic development in Nasarawa State and the North-Central region, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the institution will become a national hub for mining education, technological innovation, and manpower development.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in education as a strategic tool for national transformation, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 11TH 2026)
