Aliko Dangote, President and Founder of Dangote Foundation, has reportedly set aside N200 billion for the establishment of a world-class university of technology in Abuja.
According to media reports, the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Julius Okojie, is the chairman of the technical team for the establishment of the university. According to Okojie, the foundation intends to drive technology and research in stimulating economic growth.
Okojie, who led his team to the current Executive Secretary of the commission, Abubakar Rasheed, said the proposed university was meant to be technology-driven and asked for the cooperation and support of the NUC towards the realisation of the goal.
The team was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the foundation, Zouera Yousouffou, who disclosed that Dangote’s desire is to float a unique university of technology with all the necessary infrastructure and best faculty members from across the globe.
Vanguard reported that Rasheed applauded the bold step and promised to offer all the needed assistance for the success of the project. He however advised the team to reconsider its plan of establishing a university of technology to ‘a conventional university running all programmes but with specialty in the area of technology.’
The executive secretary, who underscored the advantages of the conventional university over the special one, said with the countless impacts on society by the business mogul, the project would be a success.
He asked the team to consult widely and look at the universities in Nigeria and abroad, with a view to creating a unique university that would be different in terms of quality in all its operations.
