Bauchi Allocates N58bn to Boost Higher Education Infrastructure

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has earmarked over N58.02 billion for education in its 2026 budget, with more than N40.6 billion allocated to capital projects aimed at improving tertiary institutions across the state.

Governor Bala Mohammed disclosed this at the combined 8th, 9th, and 10th convocation ceremony of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Gadau.

He said the funds would be used to provide critical infrastructure such as classrooms, lecture theatres, hostels, laboratories, workshops, libraries, staff quarters, administrative blocks, and ICT centres, as well as to support accreditation of academic programmes.

Institutions expected to benefit include Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi; Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare; Adamu Tafawa College of Education, Kangere; College of Education (Legal and Islamic Studies), Misau; College of Education Technical, Dass; College of Agriculture, Bauchi; College of Administrative and Business Studies, Ningi; and Sa’adu Zungur University.

For SAZU, the governor announced plans to construct 20 classrooms, two hostel blocks at Gadau and Yuli campuses, staff quarters, and perimeter fencing to enhance security across its campuses.

He also revealed that 11,781 undergraduate and 443 postgraduate students graduated during the period under review, including 215 First Class graduates, describing the development as a sign of improving academic standards.

Governor Mohammed reaffirmed that education remains central to his administration’s “My Bauchi Project,” noting that over 15 percent of the state’s annual budgets have consistently been allocated to the sector, with total education spending projected at over N112.7 billion in 2026.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fatimah Tahir, said the university had recorded significant progress through support from the state government, development partners, and TETFund.

She disclosed that a total of 11,813 undergraduate (both regular and part-time) and 443 postgraduate students graduated across the 2022/2023, 2023/2024, and 2024/2025 academic sessions.

According to her, 10,702 were regular undergraduates drawn from eight faculties, 28 departments, and 40 programmes, while 1,111 were part-time students from five faculties, 13 departments, and 38 programmes.

She added that the graduating class comprised 8,387 males (71 percent) and 3,426 females (29 percent). By academic performance, 216 students (1.83 percent) graduated with First Class honours, 3,438 (29 percent) with Second Class Upper, 5,563 (47.09 percent) with Second Class Lower, 2,353 (19.92 percent) with Third Class, and 243 (2.06 percent) with pass degrees.

Professor Tahir commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his continued support, highlighting ongoing projects such as the construction of internal access roads at the Gadau campus, which has improved mobility and the overall campus environment.

She further listed upcoming projects to include additional hostel facilities and road networks at the Yuli campus, completion of perimeter fencing across all three campuses, construction and upgrade of staff housing, and the proposed establishment of a College of Medicine.