The National Universities Commission (NUC)on Mondayupgraded the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta into Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUST).

NUCExecutive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed officially announced the take-off of the university in Abuja at the formal presentation of the school’s recognition letter toOgun StateGovernor Ibikunle Amosun.

Rasheed said that the university would be recognised as the 45th state university in the country. According to him, the take-off of the university means that the state now has three state universities.

“Ogun State is the intellectual capital of black Africa. From the NUC records, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Tai Solarin University of Education are two state universities but the addition of the University of Science and Technology will make it three.

“What this shows is that the Governor is really doing well as he has the education of the state at heart,” Rasheed further said.

He noted that the NUC did not just create the university for access alone but the integrity and sanctity of the degree in Nigerian universities.

He said an average graduate of Nigerian universities with a very good average degree earned (2-2) in a good university in Nigeria and who qualifies for any university in the world performs better.

He, however, called on other governors to take a cue from Amosun and advance the course of the university system in the country.

In his response, Governor Amosun said for any nation to get it right, the tertiary institutions must do well.

Amosun said the upgrade of the Polytechnic to a university was done through the enabling law of the state House of Assembly. He added that the university would be a reference point as the state government was committed to leave no stone unturned to take the university to its greater height.

He added that certain funds had been created for the funding of the university.

He said the former Polytechnic would be relocated to Ipokia.

He added that the university would also help to develop the human capital that would improve the industrial hub of the state.(NAN)