By Umar Zubainatu Kambari
Professor Umaru A. Pate has presented his terminal handing-over report as the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere (FUK), bringing his impactful five-year tenure to a close from February 11, 2021, to February 10, 2026.
In the report, Prof. Pate highlighted the major achievements of his administration, guided by a “Renewed Focus” on accelerating academic growth, infrastructural expansion, institutional stability, and digital transformation.
Established in 2011 by the Federal Government of Nigeria and backed by the Federal University of Kashere Act 2015, the university commenced academic activities in the 2011/2012 session with 259 students.
By February 2026, enrollment had surged to 17,936 students, supported by 2,697 staff members and 105 accredited academic programmes (56 undergraduate and 49 postgraduate) approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The institution now operates seven faculties, two schools, one institute, one centre, one college, and 44 academic departments spread across 277.23 hectares of land.
Key milestones under Prof. Pate’s leadership include the establishment of 15 new academic departments and 17 new programmes.
These encompass postgraduate offerings in Mass Communication and undergraduate programmes in Entrepreneurship, International Relations, Marketing, Public Administration, and Procurement Management.
The administration launched medical and health-related programmes, such as MBBS (Medicine and Surgery), Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Pharmacology, Dental Surgery, Nursing Science, and Occupational Therapy, through the newly created Jibril Aminu College of Medical Sciences (JACOMS).
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences was divided into two distinct faculties for greater efficiency, while new directorates were introduced in Sugar Research and Development, Environmental Studies, Peace and Security Studies, and Part-Time Degree Programmes.
Student enrollment rose dramatically by 9,625, from 8,311 to 17,936, and graduate output increased from 892 to 3,804 over the period.
The university secured five National Research Fund grants and 42 Institutional Based Research grants from TETFund, expanded library holdings from 17,387 to 23,062 volumes, and established an Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) to foster innovation and research commercialization.
Infrastructural development saw remarkable progress, with completed projects including the Chancellery Building, Administrative Block, multiple lecture theatres, a new library complex, School of Postgraduate Studies building, Faculty of Agriculture complex, Faculty of Humanities deanery, female hostel, Vice-Chancellor’s residence, housing estate, guest house in Abuja, internal road network, water factory, and several departmental buildings.
Renovations and upgrades were carried out on hostels, auditoriums, lecture halls, ICT centres, academic buildings, and the university clinic. Power supply was enhanced with the installation of a 1000KVA generating plant at the permanent site.
Ongoing initiatives include a 432-bed capacity students’ hostel, a new Senate Building, twin central lecture theatres, new internal roads with drainage, and visiting quarters for JACOMS.
Academic quality improved significantly, with full accreditation granted to multiple programmes: eight in 2021, 36 in 2023, and additional ones in 2024 and 2025, with 15 more awaiting final NUC approval. The Accounting programme also earned full accreditation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Quality assurance was strengthened through student evaluation of lecturers, strict monitoring of lectures and examinations, zero tolerance for misconduct, enhanced external examination systems, and adherence to the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
Staff development benefited 449 members through various programmes, with 172 receiving school fee waivers for postgraduate studies. A total of 2,900 promotions were processed, alongside subsidized transportation and expanded office accommodation.
For students, hostel capacity increased, power and water supply improved, a Students Representative Council was constituted, inter-faculty sports competitions (“Pate’s Cup”) were introduced, participation in NUGA Games occurred, a campus mini market was established, and reduced off-campus rental rates were negotiated.
Town-and-gown relations were bolstered through a dedicated committee, an indigent student scholarship scheme, and enhanced security collaboration with host communities, landlords, and the Gombe State Government.
Revenue generation advanced via part-time and postgraduate programmes, IJMB initiatives, a CBT centre in partnership with JAMB, consultancy services, the FUK Water Factory, and the Abuja guest house.
ICT advancements included solarisation of the ICT Centre with a 50KVA backup system, new computer laboratories, procurement of laptops for computer-based testing, donation of 100 tablets for paperless operations, digitalization of library theses, development of a CBT app for GST examinations, launch of a Human Resource appraisal system, restoration of internet capacity to 155Mbps, and establishment of a Huawei ICT Academy for certifications in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, and Networking.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Pate expressed deep gratitude to staff, students, governing council members, host communities, and all stakeholders for their support, describing the tenure as one of resilience, collaboration, and sustained institutional growth.
He affirmed that the remarkable progress achieved has firmly positioned the Federal University of Kashere for even greater accomplishments in the future.
Read the complete report:FUK Prof. Pate Handing Over Presentation
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