Commission approves establishment of new university in Bayelsa

ayodele johnson

July 30, 2016 4:52 PM

Seriake Dickson, the Bayelsa State governor, said in a press statement that the new educational institution is a public-private partnership.

National Universities Commission

A new tertiary institution, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa, has been approved for establishment by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The development was contained in a press release issued on Saturday, July 30, 2016, by Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

The statement, which carried the intent of the government, reads, "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."

According to Dickson, the institution will be funded through a public-private partnership, with the government providing the environment for the school to thrive.

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It is expected to attract worldwide involvement of those seeking quality education and others willing to facilitate such a venture.

“I am here leading this small delegation to present to you these laws passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, establishing a new university working with the private sector.

“It will be run on a public private partnership (PPP), basis. Unlike the existing one, it will not be directly funded by the state.

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

“The University of Africa, Toru-Orua, 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.

“It will be the model as we encourage more private universities in this country’’, the governor said.

ayodele johnson