President Bola Tinubu has approved the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, into the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa, as part of efforts to strengthen technical education and unlock Nigeria’s vast solid minerals potential.
The approval was announced on Saturday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the conversion aligns with the Tinubu administration’s commitment to developing human capital, promoting specialised education, and driving industrialisation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement said the approval followed a proposal by Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, advocating for the establishment of a specialised institution to leverage Nasarawa State’s comparative advantage in the solid minerals sector.
The new Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology is expected to provide world-class education, research, and innovation in mining, engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, manufacturing, and emerging technologies.
The Presidency noted that the institution will produce the skilled workforce required to drive value addition, technological advancement, and the sustainable exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources.
It added that the conversion reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to aligning Nigeria’s tertiary education system with national development priorities by establishing specialised institutions capable of addressing the country’s economic needs and harnessing its strategic advantages.
President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other relevant government agencies to begin the legal and administrative processes required to implement the conversion.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in education as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, job creation, and national prosperity.