Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has announced free tuition for 809 newly admitted students of Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna.
He also approved ₦100,000 bursaries and an endowment fund to boost the institution.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced free tuition for all 809 students newly admitted into Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna (AKUM) for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The announcement was made during the university’s matriculation ceremony on Thursday, according to a statement issued by Bologi Ibrahim, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
Governor Bago, fondly referred to as the “Farmer Governor,” also revealed that two percent of the state’s total investments would be set aside as an endowment fund for the institution. He said the government was committed to implementing policies that would help the university grow into a model of excellence within the state and beyond.
The governor explained that his administration had decided to cancel a previously planned foreign scholarship scheme, choosing instead to reinvest the funds locally to strengthen state-owned institutions. “Sometimes, leadership requires a change of direction,” he said. “We initially planned to send students abroad on scholarships, but I have decided to channel that money into developing our own university.”
Bago further disclosed plans to establish a residential estate for lecturers and staff and confirmed that academic programmes in Medicine and Medical Sciences would begin in the next session.
While congratulating the matriculating students, the governor urged them to remain disciplined and represent their families and the state with pride. He also announced a bursary award of ₦100,000 for each of the newly admitted students.
Vice Chancellor of AKUM, Professor Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, described the matriculation as the beginning of a life-changing academic journey. He said the university was designed to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship by equipping students with skills relevant to modern industries.
Paiko praised the governor’s green economy drive, saying the initiative had positioned Niger State as a key player in climate-smart development. He added that the university was aligning with this vision through programmes focused on sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, renewable energy, ICT, artificial intelligence, and environmental sciences.
