By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, October 20, 2025.
Imo State has officially secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the establishment of a new state-owned institution — the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma. The approval marks the fourth state-owned university under the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, reflecting his government’s sustained investment in education, technology, and human capital development.
Governor Uzodimma received the certificate of approval from the NUC leadership in Abuja, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to institutionalizing digital innovation and skills development across the State.
The governor explained that the idea of establishing the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma, was inspired by the remarkable success of the SkillUp Imo Initiative, which has already trained more than 50,000 young people in various digital and technical fields. He noted that the new university would serve as a permanent institutional framework to consolidate those gains and ensure continuity in the State’s digital empowerment agenda.
“Our outstanding records so far in the SkillUp Imo Initiative have inspired us to take legal measures to institutionalize this transformative approach to equipping our people with digital skills that will drive entrepreneurship across all sectors,” Governor Uzodimma said.
He emphasized that the new university would produce graduates who are not only employable but also capable of creating jobs, building innovative enterprises, and competing globally in the digital economy.
“Admittedly, the cost of maintaining a fourth state-owned university can appear daunting. However, a closer evaluation of the potential value addition, human capital development, and economic stimulation for our dear State reveals that the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma, is a visionary investment, conceived to propel our digital economy through a well-equipped, future-ready youth population,” he stated.
With this approval, Imo State further strengthens its position as a hub for technological advancement and youth empowerment in Nigeria, setting a clear path toward a knowledge-driven economy anchored on innovation, science, and enterprise.
