By Peter Omopo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology (FUSTECH) in Epe, Lagos State, despite the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on creating new tertiary institutions.
The development was announced on Thursday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary. He revealed that President Tinubu had signed the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe (Establishment) Bill 2025 into law.
“It is my honour to announce that the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe Establishment Bill 2025 has been assented to by Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Akpabio stated.
He added that the Senate had earlier transmitted authenticated copies of the bill to the President, who returned two certified copies bearing his signature.
“The Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, has come to stay,” Akpabio declared, congratulating the people of Epe and Lagos State on the milestone.
The Senate President commended Tinubu for what he described as “opening the doors of education nationwide,” noting that the approval reflects the administration’s commitment to expanding access to specialized higher education.
Focus on Science and Digital Innovation
The bill’s sponsor, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, explained that the institution will focus on cutting-edge science and technology disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, and Civil Engineering, as well as Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science — all critical to Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
Contradiction with Government Policy
The decision, however, raises questions, as it comes barely three months after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Tinubu, announced a seven-year suspension on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
At the time, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the moratorium was introduced to address issues of underfunding, poor infrastructure, and declining academic standards in existing institutions.
“Several federal universities operate far below capacity, with some having fewer than 2,000 students,” the minister had said. “If we want to improve quality and not be a laughing stock globally, we must pause the creation of new institutions.”
He clarified that while the suspension covered both public and private tertiary institutions, nine private universities were still approved after meeting National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation standards.
Alausa described the policy as a “reset button” for Nigeria’s higher education system, emphasizing that President Tinubu remained committed to delivering world-class education.
“Mr President believes fervently in education and has given us the mandate to ensure every Nigerian has access to quality education comparable to anywhere in the world,” he said.
Unanswered Questions
Efforts to obtain clarification on why the new university was approved despite the standing moratorium were unsuccessful as of press time. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, said she would respond after obtaining further details.
The establishment of FUSTECH, Epe, adds to the growing list of specialized universities across Nigeria, signaling what observers describe as Tinubu’s renewed focus on science-driven human capital development — even amid debates over sustainability and policy consistency.
