'Niger State University of Education plans not on hold'

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has dismissed rumors that degree programmes at the newly approved state University of Education have been suspended.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Jide Orintunsin, the governor said reports indicating a suspension of programmes are misleading.

Orintunsin said that the Niger government takes education very seriously.

“For a government that has identified education as a major focal area of its four-point agenda, putting on hold or suspending the programmes of the University will be a negation of the lofty agenda of this administration," he said.

The spokesman explained that Governor Bello had on the 1st of September inaugurated an 8-ma committee to determine "the viability and sustainability of the University," adding that the governor did not mention the rumored suspension.

"“It should clearly be stated that the deputy governor at no time during the inauguration of the committee said that government is suspending degree programmes of the University.

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“The importance attached to the University informed an unscheduled visit by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to the premises of the would-be University recently and it was on record that he expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure on ground for the take-off of the University."

Orintunsin further noted that the governor wanted "a serious consideration of the challenge of sustainable funding of its programmes/projects in its entirety, hence the constitution of the committee.

“Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s administration is committed to ensuring qualitative education at all levels and will ensure a proper take-off of a monumental project like the Niger State University of Education, which will serve as the bedrock of his education policy.”

Bello, who was sworn in as the Governor of Niger state on 29 May 2015, recently condemned the poor learning and teaching conditions at schools across the state, promising that his administration will bring change.