Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State, is seeking the approval of the National Universities Commission, NUC, to expand its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes following the completion of a six-day resource verification exercise.
The verification, which took place recently involved NUC teams assessing the university’s facilities, academic staffing, infrastructure, and other requirements for the proposed new programmes.
The university clarified that the exercise was not for the commencement of postgraduate education, but for the expansion of existing postgraduate offerings and the introduction of additional undergraduate courses. KUW already runs NUC-approved undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Established in 2005 with three colleges and 15 undergraduate programmes, the university is now pushing for further growth under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shishi Zhema.
A major part of the expansion is the creation of the College of Arts and Humanities to accommodate new disciplines and strengthen the institution’s academic structure.
For undergraduate studies, the university presented five new programmes for NUC assessment. They include Cyber Security, Microbiology, History and Diplomatic Studies, and Language and Literary Studies. The proposed courses cut across science, technology, management, and the humanities.
At the postgraduate level, the university also presented additional programmes including Business Administration, Mass Communication, Economics, Geography and Environmental Studies, and Public Administration.
If approved, the new programmes are expected to broaden research opportunities and postgraduate training capacity at the institution.
During the exercise, NUC teams visited relevant academic units and inspected laboratories, libraries, lecture halls, offices, and other facilities. They also held interactions with management, academic staff, and other stakeholders.
At the end of the assessment, the chairmen of the various teams commended the university management for its expansion drive, describing it as a step that would strengthen higher education and human capital development.
However, the teams identified some areas requiring urgent attention to meet NUC standards. The management received the observations and pledged to act on them.
Responding, Prof. Zhema thanked the NUC teams for their thoroughness and recommendations.
“We will give prompt attention to the identified areas and take the necessary steps to address them before the official commencement of the proposed programmes,” he assured.
The Vice-Chancellor said the expansion aligns with the university’s broader strategy to provide more opportunities for students in Taraba and beyond, and to strengthen KUW’s position in the Nigerian higher education sector.
He noted that while the resource verification has been completed, the university now awaits the NUC’s formal communication before the proposed programmes can commence.
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