The Federal Government has revealed that the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, will commence operations with a comprehensive budget allocation, rather than relying on an initial take-off grant.
This is even as it announced the conversion of General Hospital Kafanchan to Federal Medical Centre to serve as a teaching hospital for the university.
According to The PUNCH, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this on Friday in Abuja while inaugurating the Governing Council and Principal Officers of Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, was also inaugurated as the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the governing council.
The institution formerly known as Nok University was renamed the Federal University of Applied Sciences after the Federal Government took over its assets.
Alausa encouraged the newly appointed officials to leverage their combined expertise to transform the university into a premier institution renowned for academic excellence and innovative research, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also urged Bishop Kukah and others to provide visionary leadership and lay a solid foundation for the institution’s growth as it prepares to commence admission of its first cohort of students in September 2025.
“You’re not starting with a take-off grant. The President, the Vice-President, and every other person who has worked behind the scenes have ensured that you have a budget that has been appropriated in this 2025 budget. You have a robust personnel budget that has been appropriated, robust overhead costs, and a capital budget.
“So you are not starting like any other university that would approve and give take-off grants. You are in charge, and you’re privileged.”
