The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah has announced that his administration is set to establish two new universities as part of efforts to entrench the state as a knowledge centre and Diaspora innovation hub.
Mbah stated this at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, during the launch of the Diaspora Bridge Platform, a digital innovation connecting Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora with local tertiary institutions for collaboration in research, teaching, innovation, and capacity building.
The platform aims to harness the expertise of Nigerians abroad to advance national development goals in education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEM-M).
Governor Mbah added that, apart from the ongoing construction of 260 Smart Green Schools, which is set to commence in September 2025, his administration has consistently dedicated over 33 per cent of the state’s budget to education, noting that human capital remains the accurate measure of a nation’s wealth.
“Enugu State is ready to host and lead Diaspora collaborations. In addition to expanding our seven public tertiary institutions, we are establishing two new universities soon, the Enugu State University of Education and Technology (ESUET) and the Enugu State University of Agriculture and Technology (ESUAT),” the governor said.
The proposed Enugu State University of Agriculture and Technology (ESUAT) will focus on modern agricultural practices, value chain development, and agro-innovation, supporting young farmers, researchers, and agri-entrepreneurs with 21st-century skills and knowledge.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Council, Beloved-Dan Anike, has hailed the Smart Green School initiative, championed by Governor Mbah, as a “paradigm shift” and a transformative milestone in Nigeria’s future education.
Anike declared during an inspection tour of the Smart School projects in his council area yesterday, ahead of the September 2025 resumption date.
According to him, the scope, speed, and vision behind constructing over 260 state-of-the-art Smart Green Schools across the state have positioned Enugu as a national pacesetter in education reform.
“Only a visionary and courageous leader like Mbah could muster the audacity to conceive and implement such a radical transformation in education. This is not just an upgrade, this is a new era of learning,” Anike said during the inspection.
The Chairman, who assessed the level of work at the Umuigbo Smart School, expressed satisfaction with the progress, describing the facilities as “game-changing tools” that will equip students with critical 21st-century skills, foster creativity, and enhance global competitiveness.
Source: The Guardian
Image credit: The Guardian
