The Kwara state government is to spend N3.21 billion on the construction of two satellite campuses and, school of business and governance of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

Our correspondent reports that the State Executive Council (SEC), approved the immediate take-off of the two satellite campuses of KWASU, during its weekly council meeting, last week.

The University’s new campuses will be cited in Osi, Ekiti local government area in Kwara south and Ilesha – Baruba, Baruten local government area in Kwara north while the new school of business and governance will be cited in Ilorin, the state capital, in Kwara central.

It would be recalled that KWASU, located in Malete, Moro local government area in Kwara north, commenced academic activities seven years ago. It was designed to be a multi-campus institution.

The University was established by the then governor of Kwara state, Dr Bukola Saraki to cater for admission needs of Kwarans desirous of university education, given the limited spaces allocated to the state by other universities.

The government also announced the scrapping of two courses being run by the University as well plan to appoint two Deputy Vice Chancellors who would assist the Vice Chancellor,Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah in running the institution.

The state commissioner for information and communication, Babatunde Ajeigbe who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council said the council approved construction of Osi and Ilesha-Baruba campuses of the university, explaining that the work would involve lecture rooms, students’ hostels and staff quarters building road and water.

He said the projects would be funded under the state infrastructural development fund (K- IF).

Ajeigbe disclosed that the government also approved that two of the courses the institution offers namely Legal Administration and Portuguese Language be scrapped. He said Legal Administration is not a course accredited by the nation’s Council of Legal Education.

To underscore the importance of the projects, Ajeigbe who was supported at the press briefing by Special Adviser, Legal and Senior Special Assistant, Media and Communications, to the governor, Barr. Suleiman Atolagbe and Dr Muhideen Akorede respectively, said government was committed to making the funds available so as to ensure quick take-off of.

The commissioner added that in the next couple of weeks Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will flag-off the construction of the campuses at Osi and Ilesha Baruba.

“It is at the cornerstone of this government efforts to provide functional and quality tertiary education to our youths and to ensure that the vision of setting up the university are achieved”, Akorede complemented.

He said after considering the report of the visitation panel to KWASU, the Council also directed that the governing council of the university should without delay ensure appointment of two deputy vice chancellors.

Ajeigbe who said that the decision for appointment of the deputy VCs is in line with the law establishing the university disclosed that one of the deputies would be in charge of administration while the other would man academics.

In a similar development, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the take-off of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering degree programme at KWASU.

With this approval, KWASU has become the first Nigerian university to institute a degree programme in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

The Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah disclosed this in a statement.

Na’Allah said that the institution has formally submitted an invitation to NUC for accreditation, and assured that the university is fully ready for the exercise.

He congratulated and commended all the students and staff of the school’s College of Engineering and Technology, particularly the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering for “their hard work and patience that have led to this great success.”

“KWASU’s College of Engineering and Technology currently offers courses in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Food, Agric & Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering.

“Recall that the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has completed the construction of an N800million Engineering complex for the university, which is part of the State government’s efforts to promote engineering education.

“With the International Aviation College (IAC) already situated in Ilorin, Kwara State is fst becoming the aviation hub in the country”, he stated .