YAKUBU GOWON UNIVERSITY

The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), Engr. Prof. A. Jimoh, on Monday October 12, 2026, led a delegation on a dual-purpose visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Engr. Dr. Anthony Ekedegwa, at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.

During the visit, Prof. Jimoh disclosed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had granted approval for the University to commence its Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) programme in Nuclear Engineering from the 2026/2027 academic session, following a successful resource verification exercise. He conveyed the congratulations of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Governing Council and Senate to the NAEC Chairman/CEO on his substantive appointment. He also expressed appreciation to NAEC staff who participated in the resource verification exercise.

Prof. Jimoh further disclosed that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is expected to conduct its own resource verification exercise in November 2026. He noted that some prospective students had already selected Nuclear Engineering as their first-choice programme for the 2026/2027 admission exercise. In his response, the Chairman/CEO congratulated the University on becoming the first university in Nigeria to commence an undergraduate degree programme in Nuclear Engineering. He stressed the importance of admitting highly qualified candidates, given the rigorous demands of nuclear engineering education and the sector’s zero-tolerance approach to errors.

Engr. Dr. Ekedegwa reaffirmed NAEC’s commitment to sustained collaboration and technical support for the University, in line with the Commission’s mandate to develop over 2,000 nuclear professionals and promote the domestication of nuclear technology in Nigeria. Other members of NAEC Management who spoke during the visit included the Head of the Manpower Training and Capacity Development (MTCD), Mr. Ayobami Ezekiel; the Director of the Nuclear Research and Infrastructure Development (NRID), Engr. Justine Salu; and the Head of the International Cooperation Liaison (ICL), Engr. Awwal Bisallah. They commended the University for this significant achievement, describing the commencement of an undergraduate Nuclear Engineering programme in Nigeria as a major milestone for NAEC, the country and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They noted that the initiative would strengthen the sustainability of the nuclear sector’s workforce and help address the projected global shortage of skilled nuclear professionals.

The Chairman/CEO further assured the University that NAEC engineers would be available to provide the necessary technical support during the forthcoming COREN resource verification exercise. The development marks an important step towards strengthening nuclear engineering education, building indigenous technical capacity and advancing Nigeria’s peaceful nuclear technology programme.