Bayelsa gets another varsity

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of the University of Africa for Bayelsa State, the 43rd state university in the country.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, in Yenagoa on Saturday.

According to the statement, NUC handed over the letter of approval to Governor Dickson when he visited the commission in Abuja.

It quoted Dickson as expressing gratitude to Professor Julius Okojie, the NUC’s Executive Secretary, for the warm reception accorded him and his team.

“The approval of the university followed the formal presentation of relevant gazette law, academic brief, physical master-plan as well as the satisfactory report of the advisory resource assessment visit by the commission,” the Executive Secretary said.

Dickson explained that the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, was conceived as a public private partnership venture and designed as a first rate institution of learning to attract some of the best teachers from Africa and the world.

He said the university would be funded by private partners, while the government would only provide the enabling environment for its establishment.

“Our belief is that for a university to be sustainable, we must create room for private sector participation and involvement.

“The University of Africa is the first of its kind in this country to be established by government with private sector involvement.

“It will be strictly a fee paying tertiary institution that will attract students from across the continent and the globe,” he said.

Okojie congratulated the state, saying that, “the establishment of the university took effect from July 28, having complied with the basic requirements.”