Ilorin already has plenty of tertiary institutions, so why did Kwara State create another one? The pioneer Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), Professor Medinat Folorunso Salman, says the answer is a shortage of qualified, professionally trained teachers across the country.
Speaking in Ilorin, she described KWASUED as the only university in the state that focuses entirely on teacher education. The idea, in her words, is to produce graduates who are competent, well grounded in the profession and ready to improve the education sector once they leave school.
A recruitment process she says was done on merit
Professor Salman gave credit to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and to the governing council for letting the university hire its foundation staff on merit. The council is chaired by Professor Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem, a professor emeritus who previously served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and now chairs the Federal Character Commission. She says that approach helped the young university start on firm ground, and that the plan is to keep building a team of qualified academic and non teaching staff.
To make sure the first students learn from seasoned people, the university has also brought in professors on sabbatical leave and other experienced academics as adjunct staff.
Approval and accreditation, explained
KWASUED began academic work in the 2025/2026 session, and this is where prospective students and parents often get confused. All of its programmes have been approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which means they are cleared to run. Accreditation is a separate step, a later review of how a programme is actually performing. According to the Vice Chancellor, the programmes will not be due for accreditation until the pioneer students reach 300 Level, so for now the courses are approved but not yet accredited.
Where classes hold for now
The university was established by the Kwara State House of Assembly in July 2024. It opened with 1,171 pioneer students and 134 staff, academic and non academic combined.
Its permanent site is at Alalubosa in Ilorin East Local Government Area, where construction is about 40 percent done. Until that is ready, lectures take place in designated buildings inside the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin. The two institutions share premises but run independently of each other.
The biggest headache is space
Professor Salman admitted that space is the main challenge at the moment, especially with more fresh students expected to be admitted. She said management is working on it and that the governing council is already taking steps to address the problem, so teaching and research can continue in a suitable environment.
What the university wants to become
Looking ahead, she said the goal is a world class institution that turns out skilled, innovative and morally upright graduates. That means quality teacher training, research and innovation, and the building of good values in students who will one day shape children and future generations. The long term target is for KWASUED to become a centre of excellence in teacher education that serves Kwara State, Nigeria and beyond.
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