The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the upgrade of Sa’adatu Rimi College of
Education in Kumbotso, Kano state, to a university.
Presenting the letter of Recognition to the Visitor, His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, Dr.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,OFR, on Tuesday 14 February, 2023, at the NUC Secretariat, the Executive
Secretary, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL, said that the institution would be the
61st state-owned university and the 221st university in the Nigerian University System (NUS).
Professor Rasheed commended the Governor for the initiative of establishing the University, saying that
the Institution would address the obvious challenge of the high demands for university education not only
in Kano State but the Northern part of the country and indeed the whole nation.
He stated that with the vast experience of the Governor in higher education and his numerous
accomplishments, the University would be a true citadel of learning with a good reputation.
The Executive Secretary said that the Commission was impressed with the various documents presented
by the Kano State Government for the new University, adding that with its approval other relevant federal
Government agencies would accord it recognition as a full-fledged University.
The NUC Scribe stated that “having met the consequence of the requirement upon the receipt of your
letter and the former presentation of necessary documents, I write on behalf of NUC that with effect from
Tuesday, February 14, 2023, Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education is recognized as the 61st state and
221st university in Nigeria.”
The Executive Secretary added that by this recognition letter, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation
Board (JAMB), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
had been notified of the establishment of the University.
Presenting the strategic document to the Executive Secretary, Governor Ganduje said that the newly
recognised institution made it the third university owned by the state government, with Yusuf Maitama
Sule University and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil.
The Governor explained that the new university was established to meet the growing demands for
education in the state as well as to produce high-level manpower for national development. He assured
the NUC that adequate preparation had been put in place for the students to complete their studies as the
life of the college of education came to an end with the new status.
Governor Ganduje told the Executive Secretary that his administration had produced a robust Master
Plan, Academic Brief and the enabling University Law for the smooth take-off of the newly recognised
University. He added that the available state of the heart facility would conveniently accommodate the
University in its first phase of its development, while more provision had also been made for its success.
He added that his administration has also built and commissioned a multibillion naira skill acquisition
centre in the State to train and equip the youths with the necessary skills to become self-employed and
contribute meaningfully to the development of the State. He added that the centre which was named after
the foremost African business man, Aliko Dangote, would provide alternative job opportunity to the
youths against the scarce white-collar-jobs.
Governor Ganduje said, “Our overarching commitment is to contribute to developing the human
resources needed to drive socioeconomic growth and development in Kano State and Nigeria. Higher
education Worldwide is a veritable driver of human development, innovation, technological advancement
and resource exploration. It is central to the creation of future wealth and better socio-economic
attainment in the current knowledge driven economy.
Better and efficient managers of resources and upward mobile professionals are all products of a well-
designed curriculum and focused advance training in every aspect of human endeavours depends on
higher education to attain an efficient level of production and performance”.
The Governor further explained that the University had not less than 116 lecturers with PhDs, 246 with
Academic Masters degrees with a good number of qualified non-academic staff for the smooth transition
of the Institution from College of Education level to its present University statutory level.
In the Governor’s entourage included the Deputy Governor and the All Progressives Congress’s
Gobernatorial candidate for Kano State, Alh. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Speaker,
Kano State House of Assembly, members of Kano State Carbinet, amongst others.
NUC attendance included the Deputy Executive Secreatary, Administration, Mr. Chris J. Maiyak;
Directors of Establishment of Private University, Mrs. Constance Goddy-Nnadi; Academic Planning, Dr.
Noel B. Salihu; Office of the Executive Secretary, Mr. John Mairafi Ahmadu; Open, Distance and e-
Learning, Engr. Kayode Odedina;Human Resource, Mr. Boniface Odum as well as Acting Directors of
Research, Innovation and Information Technology, Mal. Lawal Muhammad Faruk; Skills Development
and Entrepreneurship, Mal. Ashafa Ladan; Public Affairs, Mal. Haruna Lawal Ajo; Inspection and
Monitoring, Mrs. Lydia Imorua and Account and Finance, Mrs. Hawa Amos, among others.