The management of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has approved the establishment of nine new Institutes and Centres to expand the institution’s academic, professional, research, and community-service mandates.
The approval followed recommendations made by the University Senate during its Emergency Meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The new units are scheduled to officially commence operations from the 2026/2027 academic session, serving as additional platforms for interdisciplinary scholarship and addressing contemporary societal challenges.
The newly established academic units include the Institute of Strategic Communication and Development, the Centre for Continuing Education, the Institute of Education, the Institute of Vaccine Research and Production, and the Institute of Digital Innovation and Practice. Others are the Institute for Governance and Accountability, the Institute of African Studies and Digital Humanities, the Institute of Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, and the Institute of Plant Conservation, Biotechnology and Natural Products.
According to the university authority, each approved proposal outlines clearly defined mission and vision statements, academic and administrative structures, proposed curricula, staffing guidelines, and operational organograms.
The decision to create the units followed a rigorous screening process by a dedicated review committee that evaluated submissions from various faculties in strict compliance with National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines. Out of eleven proposals presented to the Senate, nine received approval and recommendation to the University Council, while two were stepped down for further review.
Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, stated that the new entities would bolster the institution’s teaching, research, and outreach capabilities. He explained that the institutes and centres will operate as regulatory extensions of the university’s core mission, providing flexible pathways for learners seeking professional skills, postgraduate qualifications, and quality-assured part-time education.
Prof. Usman commended the Senate and the review committee for their diligence and foresight, while reaffirming management’s commitment to ensuring full adherence to established academic standards as the new units operationalise. He further encouraged prospective students, researchers, and relevant stakeholders to leverage the new platforms to advance their academic and professional ambitions.
