Kwara Records Major Strides in Tertiary Education Development — Commissioner

 

The Kwara State Government has made significant investments in infrastructure, scholarships, and innovation across its tertiary education sector between April and September 2025, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu has disclosed.

Presenting the 3rd Quarter Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing Report in Ilorin, Hajia Modibbo Kawu said the state has recorded remarkable progress in institutional development, staff welfare, student empowerment, research advancement, and academic excellence under the visionary leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

According to her, the Ministry secured multiple approvals for key capital projects, including the renovation and upgrading of 14 facilities at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, to serve both the College and the newly established Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED).

She added that the Governor also approved the procurement of laboratory equipment, library furniture, e-learning software, and the development of an integrated ICT system comprising a website, Human Resource Management System, Bursary Automation, and a Learning Management System for KWASUED.

The Commissioner noted that the Ministry achieved major milestones in leadership stability and institutional governance across state-owned tertiary institutions. Among these, she said, were the appointment of Mr. Benjamin Ayanshola as substantive Provost of the College of Health Technology, Offa, and the appointment of a new Provost for the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi.

She also highlighted the inauguration of the Governing Council of the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin, noting that these measures have strengthened administrative efficiency and policy implementation.

Hajia Modibbo Kawu said the Ministry has maintained peaceful industrial relations and ensured regular payment of staff salaries, resulting in uninterrupted academic calendars across all institutions.

She disclosed that the Kwara State University (KWASU) achieved 100 percent accreditation for all 25 academic programmes presented to the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the Kwara State Polytechnic secured full accreditation for all programmes assessed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Similarly, the Colleges of Education in Ilorin, Oro, and Lafiagi maintained accreditation for their NCE programmes.

The Commissioner further applauded KWASU’s leadership in innovation, noting that the university spearheaded a clean energy initiative by converting old government vehicles to electric and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) systems.

 

 

She said the university signed an MoU with Yasin Logistics to establish CNG conversion and repair centres, and secured participation in the Presidential Initiative on CNG (PiCNG), which will provide buses and motorcycles to enhance campus mobility.

According to her, other notable collaborations include the Kwara Polytechnic’s MoU with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, IVTEC Ajase-Ipo’s MoU with the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, and the College of Education, Ilorin’s partnership with Rudn University, Russia, for research and academic exchange.

Hajia Modibbo Kawu revealed that the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved and disbursed a 100 percent increase in bursary and scholarship awards to Kwara indigenes, including law students.

In addition, 200 youths were trained under Batch 9 of the Kwara Youth Empowerment and Employment Generation Scheme (KWYEEGS) at IVTEC, Ajase-Ipo, while over 600 female students of the Kwara State Polytechnic benefitted from Smart Agriculture training under the French Government’s WATEA Project, in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The Commissioner also disclosed that Kwara State Polytechnic expanded its internally generated revenue base through the establishment of a poultry farm and greenhouse project. Its students, she said, distinguished themselves at the 2024 NIPOGA Games, winning six gold, six silver, and two bronze medals.

She added that the College of Education, Ilorin, emerged first at the ECHIPS National Competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education, while student unions across all tertiary institutions conducted peaceful elections and maintained stable campus environments.

Highlighting progress in aviation education, Hajia Modibbo Kawu announced that the Kwara State Aviation College successfully completed Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training for three students, who were decorated by the Governor. The College also procured new aircraft engines and logistics equipment to boost flight operations and safety.

She further noted that IVTEC, Ajase-Ipo, sustained its delivery of vocational and entrepreneurship education in line with the State’s industrialization policy, while the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, expanded its technical teacher-education programmes.

The Commissioner emphasized that the Ministry continues to prioritize staff development, organizing workshops and training programmes on entrepreneurship, ICT, vocational skills, and digital learning — including Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) training at the College of Education, Oro, among others.