Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has revealed that the state government is financing the construction of the world’s first University of Public Relations and Leadership entirely from its own savings, without resorting to loans or external borrowing.
The governor made the disclosure on Friday in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) University.
According to Sule, Nasarawa State’s ability to execute such a major project independently is a result of improved fiscal discipline brought about by ongoing economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu. He said these reforms have strengthened financial autonomy and responsible spending at the sub-national level.
Sule recalled that in the past, the state relied heavily on borrowing to execute relatively small projects. He noted that there was a time when the state had to issue bonds to raise about ₦5 billion to build a market, but that situation has changed significantly. Today, he said, even projects valued at ₦40 billion are executed without borrowing.
The governor explained that funding for the university is being drawn from a special savings fund he had quietly built over time for the benefit of future administrations. However, he added that members of the State Executive Council encouraged him to deploy part of the fund for the establishment of the university.
He further disclosed that 50 per cent of the total contract sum had already been paid upfront to the contractor from the savings, while the remaining balance would be sourced from the same fund.
In his remarks, the President of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, commended Sule for his leadership and ability to translate vision into concrete achievements. He said the project would reposition Nasarawa State on the global map of education and professional training.
Neliaku said the initiative sends a strong message to Nigeria and the international community that Nasarawa State has moved from the margins to become a centre of history and innovation.
Also speaking, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the first civilian governor of the state, congratulated the state government and residents for hosting what he described as a pioneering institution. He said the university is the first of its kind in Africa, and possibly in the world.
Similarly, the Vice President of the NIPR, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, described the project as a landmark achievement in higher education and professional development. He said the institution would be Nigeria’s first intentionally designed “Triple Helix” university, integrating government, industry, and academia.
Dandaura added that the university would also be the world’s first specialised institution dedicated solely to public relations and leadership, noting that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has expressed excitement about the project.
Earlier, the project consultant, Arc Shehu Tukur, said the university would be developed on a 100-hectare site, with the first phase covering 16 hectares. He explained that the initial phase would include the senate building, student hostels, staff quarters, and other critical infrastructure.
Tukur assured that the project would be delivered within the agreed timeline, noting that the state government had already met its financial obligations. He said the project team remains fully committed to delivering the university in line with the governor’s vision.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the university project is a collaboration between the Nasarawa State Government, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and international partners.
