By Stephen Victor Gana
Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State, is awaiting the formal approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC) following a six-day resource verification exercise for the proposed expansion of its postgraduate and undergraduate academic programmes.The exercise, which commenced on 19 August and ended on 24 August 2026, saw various NUC resource verification teams visit the university to assess its readiness, facilities, staffing and other requirements for the proposed additional programmes.
The latest exercise is part of the regulatory process for introducing new academic programmes in Nigerian universities, with the university now expected to await the Commission's formal decision following the assessment. KUW already has NUC approval for its existing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The latest resource verification exercise was therefore not for the commencement of postgraduate education at the university but for the expansion of its existing postgraduate offerings and the introduction of additional undergraduate programmes.
The development represents another significant step in the academic growth of the institution, which was established in 2005 and has, since inception, operated a collegiate system comprising three colleges and 15 undergraduate academic programmes.
Under the current administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shishi Zhema, the university has embarked on an expansion of its academic structure with the creation of an additional college and the proposal of new programmes designed to broaden opportunities for students and respond to emerging educational and manpower needs.
One of the major developments is the establishment of the College of Arts and Humanities, created as part of the university's efforts to accommodate additional academic disciplines and strengthen its academic structure.
As part of the latest expansion, the university presented five new undergraduate programmes for resource verification by the NUC teams.
Among the programmes presented are Cyber Security, Microbiology, History and Diplomatic Studies and Language and Literary Studies, alongside other proposed programmes.
The proposed programmes cut across science, management, technology and the humanities, reflecting the university's efforts to diversify its academic offerings and align them with contemporary educational demands.
At the postgraduate level, the university also presented additional programmes for assessment. These include Business Administration, Mass Communication, Economics, Geography and Environmental Studies and Public Administration, among others.
The proposed postgraduate programmes are expected to build on the postgraduate programmes already approved for the university and further expand opportunities for graduates seeking advanced academic qualifications.
If granted approval, the additional programmes are also expected to broaden the university's research and postgraduate training capacity and provide more opportunities for professional and academic development. During the six-day exercise, the various NUC teams visited relevant academic units and assessed the university's preparedness for the proposed programmes.
The resource verification covered key areas including academic staffing, infrastructure, teaching and learning facilities, laboratories, library resources, offices and other requirements considered necessary for the effective delivery of the proposed programmes.
The teams also interacted with members of the university management, academic staff and other stakeholders as part of the assessment process. At the end of their respective assignments, the chairmen of the various teams commended the management of Kwararafa University for its decision to expand the institution's academic programmes.
The team leaders appreciated what they described as the wisdom and foresight of the university management in broadening its academic offerings, noting that the expansion could further strengthen the institution's contribution to higher education and human capital development.
However, the teams also identified some areas requiring urgent attention as part of their observations during the exercise. The observations were received by the university management as areas requiring further improvement to strengthen the institution's preparedness and ensure compliance with the standards expected for the proposed programmes.
Responding to the observations, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shishi Zhema, thanked the NUC teams for the thoroughness of the exercise and the constructive recommendations made during the assessment.
Professor Zhema assured the teams that the university management would give prompt attention to the identified areas and take the necessary steps to address them before the official commencement of the proposed programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor's assurance underscores the management's commitment to ensuring that the expansion of academic programmes is matched with adequate infrastructure, qualified academic personnel and appropriate teaching and learning resources. The latest development is significant in the context of the university's growth since its establishment in 2005.
From its initial structure of three colleges and 15 undergraduate programmes, Kwararafa University is now seeking to further expand its academic footprint through the creation of another college, additional undergraduate programmes and an increase in its postgraduate offerings.
The proposed expansion is expected to create greater opportunities for students in Taraba State and beyond while strengthening the university's position within the Nigerian higher education sector. For prospective undergraduate students, the proposed introduction of programmes such as Cyber Security, Microbiology, History and Diplomatic Studies, and Language and Literary Studies would provide additional areas of study, subject to NUC approval.
Similarly, the proposed postgraduate programmes would give graduates and professionals more options for advanced study within the university if the Commission grants the requested approvals. The expansion also has implications for the university's research agenda, as additional postgraduate programmes could provide a broader platform for research, scholarship and knowledge production in areas relevant to society and national development.
However, the immediate task before the university management is to address the issues identified during the resource verification exercise while awaiting the formal decision of the NUC. The successful completion of the exercise does not in itself constitute approval. The university is expected to receive the Commission's formal communication on the outcome of the assessment before the proposed programmes can officially commence.
The development has nonetheless generated interest within the university community, with staff, students and prospective applicants awaiting the outcome of the NUC process.
For Professor Shishi Zhema and his management team, the latest exercise forms part of a broader strategy to expand the university's academic capacity and position the institution to meet the changing educational needs of its students and the wider society. The creation of the College of Arts and Humanities, the presentation of additional undergraduate programmes and the proposed expansion of postgraduate offerings demonstrate the administration's ambition to build on the foundation laid since the university's establishment.
As Kwararafa University awaits the NUC's formal approval, management is expected to continue working on the areas identified by the resource verification teams and strengthen its preparedness for the proposed programmes.
If the requested approvals are granted, the expansion will mark another important milestone in the development of Kwararafa University, Wukari, further broadening its academic portfolio and strengthening its contribution to teaching, research and human capital development in Taraba State and Nigeria.
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