LOKOJA, Nigeria — The National University Commission, NUC, has approved eight new academic programs for Salem University, Lokoja, slated to begin in the 2024/2025 academic session.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Alewo Akubo, announced the approval during a press briefing in Lokoja.
He disclosed that the approval was communicated through a letter dated October 2, 2024, signed by the acting NUC Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki.
The newly approved programs include Nursing, Anatomy, Physiology, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Data Science.
Expressing his joy over the approval, Prof. Akubo described it as a “welcome development” that would elevate the university to new heights.
“Salem University Lokoja is growing and expanding by the day in view of the approval of more courses by the NUC,” he said.
“It’s our belief that these eight new programs will open up opportunities for the teeming youths to pursue their desired goals and aspirations.”
He highlighted the significance of the health-related courses, noting that the new programs would help address Nigeria’s shortage of health personnel, exacerbated by the ongoing brain drain, popularly referred to as the “Japa” syndrome.
The vice-chancellor also noted that the latest approval builds on recent NUC approvals for postgraduate programs at Salem University.
“Only recently, the commission issued us approval to run Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) and other postgraduate programs in Law, Accounting, Criminology and Security Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration, Microbiology, and Computer Science,” he said.
“These approvals are timely and serve as a huge encouragement to us as a citadel of learning in the North-Central Zone of Nigeria,” Prof. Akubo added.
According to the Akudo, the new programmes align with the mission and vision of Salem University, which aims to train students to become “mentally alert, spiritually alive, and intellectually developed” agents of change.
“Our focus remains on raising graduates who will not only succeed in their fields but also change their world,” Akubo emphasised.
