By God’spower Ede,  Lafia

Nasarawa State is on the verge of becoming a leading centre of academic excellence, following the recent Federal Government’s approval to upgrade the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, to a specialized Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology.

The approval, announced in a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Friday, July 10, 2026, was attributed to sustained advocacy and a detailed proposal by Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District.

According to the release, Senator Wadada made a strong case for a specialized university that would harness Nasarawa State’s comparative advantage in solid minerals and align with Nigeria’s industrialization agenda. 

It argued that Nasarawa, with vast deposits of lithium, barite, tin, tantalite, and other minerals, needed a dedicated institution to train the workforce required for value addition and sustainable exploitation of natural resources.

Essentially, the new university is expected to serve as a hub for research, innovation, and skilled manpower development in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

Accordingly, Senator Wadada, an alumnus of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, described the upgrade as a fulfillment of a long-held vision for his alma mater and the people of the state.

Therefore, with this development, the number of universities in Nasarawa State rises to six, namely;

Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Federal University of Lafia, Birmingham University, Karu, Phoenix University, Agwada, University of Public Relations and Governance Studies, Gudi and now the new Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa 

The state also hosts a wide range of other tertiary institutions, including College of Education, Akwanga; Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia; College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia; School of Health Technology, Keffi; College of Nursing Sciences, Lafia; and Federal College of Education (Technical), Keana, in addition to several privately owned institutions spread across the state.

There is also the possibility of relocating the erstwhile Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, to another local government area, which would further expand access to tertiary education in the state.

Hence, beyond academics, the new university is expected to boost socio-economic activities in Nasarawa through business development, community growth, and employment generation for citizens of the state and beyond.

Obviously,  the push by Senator Wadada reflects purposeful leadership and quality representation.

With more of such selfless service and aggressive advocacy, elected representatives at both state and federal levels can collectively transform Nasarawa into a model of positive development.

Additionally, Nasarawa’s proximity to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also places the state in a strategic position to attract more federal presence, provided leaders remain committed to leveraging that advantage.

No doubt, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada has shown that when promises are translated into action, development becomes a pleasant reality for the people of Nasarawa State.