President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the establishment of two new federal universities in Osun and Ekiti States, a development that is regarded as a significant milestone of Nigeria’s educational and economic development. The president gave his assent to bills to establish the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Iragbiji, Osun State, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State on Thursday, February 20, 2025. These niche universities are to provide the critical learning needs of Nigerians and spur innovation, research, and assisting the economic long-term growth of the nation.

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During the signing ceremony in Abuja, President Tinubu reaffirmed that the institutions would provide vital training towards the development of capable professionals in agriculture, science, and technology. According to the president, they are located strategically to make Nigeria more competitive at a global level by creating expertise in areas of priority such as environmental sustainability, agricultural innovation, and technological advancement.

These universities are the result of an even broader agenda to increase the higher education capability of Nigeria, as the National Universities Commission (NUC) states that the country now possesses 63 federally recognized universities, 63 state universities, and 149 private universities. This past month as well, President Tinubu again gave approval, on February 3, 2025, for the construction of the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) in Ogoni town, Tai, Rivers State, once again increasing the number of federal universities.

This news was first revealed by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who played a key role in the legislative process for the new universities. Senator Bamidele announced on Thursday that the two bills had been signed, following their passing in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The bills were initially sponsored by Bamidele in 2023 and 2024 with broad support from both chambers of the National Assembly before being forwarded to the president for signing.

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In a release issued by the Office of the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs of the Senate Leader’s Office, Bamidele highlighted the critical importance of these universities to national development. He noted that they would bridge critical gaps in education, particularly in science, technology, and innovation, and enhance environmental sustainability as well as agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

“These institutions are poised to enhance food security and cushion the effects of climate change, accelerate the administration’s vision for economic growth and green economy,” Bamidele stated. The assent of the bills by the president, he said, is a “defining and monumental milestone” in Nigeria’s education and development agenda.

The Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, has come as a highly anticipated development in order to answer the country’s technological and environmental demands. In a comprehensive recommendation letter to the presidency by Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the university in Iyin Ekiti will specialize in producing graduates with a peculiar expertise in engineering, digital innovation, applied sciences, and environmental studies.

Alausa’s letter dated February 19, 2025, informed that the new university would focus on environmental sciences with programs in areas such as climate change, renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable urban development. It is expected to be a center of research for policy development and solutions towards the achievement of Nigeria’s environmental sustainability goals. The university will not only contribute towards Nigeria’s future industrial development but also prepare the students with capabilities to lead technology innovation and national economic growth.

In its turn, the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Iragbiji will be established as a center of research excellence and innovation in agriculture. Minister Alausa emphasized the importance of the institution in addressing Nigeria’s food security challenges, particularly in rural communities. The university will focus on the development of improved farming methods, agro-processing technologies, and climate-smart agricultural technologies for improving the country’s food production and climate change resilience.

The university will combine agricultural sciences and development studies to offer a multidisciplinary solution to Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges, especially in rural and agrarian communities. It is likely to enhance entrepreneurship and agribusiness, equipping students with skills that can create self-employment and wealth generation in the agriculture sector. Alausa added that the university would be a major partner in research with international bodies, government, and the private sector in bids to increase agricultural sustainability and rural community development.

Besides their intellectual productions, the two centers are also intended to spur local economies. In Iragbiji, for instance, the university will tend to create employment opportunities in large numbers and spur local businesses through its training programs, research, and participation in agricultural stakeholder activities. The development of these new campuses will also have the tendency to attract investments and partnerships, further strengthening the economic foundation of the sites.

President Tinubu’s action to sanction the establishment of these universities at this time when Nigeria is increasingly worried about sustainable development and technological advancement is a step in the right direction. Besides bridging knowledge gaps in agriculture and technology, the new universities will be a step towards the general goal of making Nigeria a giant of the world economy. In summary, through the signing into law of these bills, President Tinubu has taken a tremendous step towards developing a more sustainable, innovative, and economically competitive Nigeria. Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji, and Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, will emerge as major pillars in Nigeria’s higher education framework, playing major roles in developing knowledge, innovation, and economic growth in the future.

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