The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted the Imo State government a license to establish the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma — the state’s fourth public university.
NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, presented the operational license to Governor Hope Uzodimma at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Ribadu described the new institution as a reflection of Imo State’s strong commitment to education and its efforts to expand access to quality higher learning.
“The National Universities Commission remains dedicated to ensuring that our higher education sector meets the highest standards of academic excellence,” he said. “The approval of this university aligns with our mandate to regulate and maintain quality assurance in the Nigerian university system.”
He noted that Imo already hosts seven universities — two federal, three state, and two private — alongside several other tertiary institutions. The new university, he added, brings the total number of universities in Nigeria to 301.
Ribadu urged the state government to ensure the institution becomes a true centre of innovation, learning, and character development, rather than just another name on the list.
Governor Uzodimma, in his remarks, said the approval was timely, as the state’s growing youth population needed more opportunities for tertiary education.
“This recognition is an answered prayer for our young men and women seeking access to quality university education,” Uzodimma said.
He revealed that the new university would collaborate with the University of California, Berkeley, through Imo Digital City, to promote entrepreneurship and technology-driven education.
“The goal is to produce graduates who will not just seek jobs but create them,” he added.
