Former Vice Chancellor of Greenfield University Kaduna and a prominent academic from the Department of Geography at the Kaduna State University (KASU), Professor John G. Laah, has defended the proposed Federal University of Applied Sciences, slated for Kachia in Southern Kaduna.
In a recent interview with newsmen, he emphasised the national importance of the institution, despite mounting criticisms from certain quarters.
Laah, representing the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors, spoke highly of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, who championed the bill for the establishment of the university and expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would soon sign the bill into law.
“We are at the forefront of having a university in Southern Kaduna. Our forum includes 186 members—professors from Southern Kaduna—and we are committed to ensuring the university becomes a reality. It will benefit not just the people of Southern Kaduna but all Nigerians,” Laah stated.
The push for a federal university in Southern Kaduna dates back to 2018, under the leadership of Senator Danjuma Laah, when the proposal aimed to convert the Federal School of Statistics into the Federal University of Science and Technology. However, the bill did not pass before the end of his tenure.
When Senator Katung assumed office, he quickly embraced the cause, engaging with Southern Kaduna academics and stakeholders. According to Laah, Katung’s proactive approach led to the first reading of the Federal University of Applied Sciences bill within a month of his inauguration.
However, criticism quickly followed. Some questioned why Katung did not continue the efforts of his predecessor to establish a Federal University of Science and Technology. Laah defended the shift in focus, explaining that the proposed Federal University of Applied Sciences would be the first of its kind in Nigeria, distinct from other institutions like the Federal University of Science and Technology or the Federal University of Health Sciences.
“This will be the first Federal University of Applied Sciences. We consulted widely, and this university is not just for Southern Kaduna; it is for all of Nigeria. It will address the growing demand for higher education and offer opportunities to our youths who are largely unemployed,” Laah said.
