- President Tinubu named key officials for the Federal University of Applied Sciences, which was formerly Nok University
- Bishop Kukah was appointed Pro-Chancellor of the university which is now a federal institution under Tinubu's directive
- The presidency urged the institution leadership to position the university for academic excellence, with student enrollment set for September 2025
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council for the newly renamed Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, in Kaduna State.
The announcement came in a statement from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed the appointment on Monday.
Tinubu orders takeover of Nok University
The statement, titled “President Tinubu Appoints Bishop Kukah as Pro-Chancellor of Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia,” also revealed additional appointments to key positions at the institution.
The appointment followed a government directive just over a month ago when President Tinubu ordered the Federal Government to take over the privately-run Nok University, Kachia, and transform it into a federal institution.
As a result, the university was renamed the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.
Onanuga's statement further disclosed that President Tinubu appointed several other principal officers for the university, including Professor Qurix Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as Bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as University Librarian.
Tinubu appoints Bishop Kukah, other key officials
The President also announced the appointment of several members to the university's Governing Council: Mr Thomas Etuh (North Central), Chief Fabian Nwaora (South-East), Prof. Femi Taiwo (South-West), and Zarah Bukar (North-East).
According to the Presidency, the appointees were chosen based on their distinguished careers, leadership skills, and commitment to advancing education in Nigeria.
President Tinubu urged the new leadership to “use their collective expertise to position the university as a hub for academic excellence and research, aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He further emphasised the importance of providing visionary leadership and laying a strong foundation as the institution prepares to welcome its first students in September 2025.
Christmas Day: Nigerian bishops address national issues, offering messages of hope
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that prominent clerics across the country used the Christmas occasion to address the nation’s pressing issues while offering messages of hope and encouragement.
Bishop Kukah emphasised that Nigeria's challenges stemmed from a lack of moral progress and urged citizens to choose light over darkness in national life.