The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of 13 new academic programmes at the University of Mkar Mkar (UMM), Nigeria.
UMM, a private faith-based university established by the Nongu u Kristu u i Ser sha Tar (NKST) – Universal Reformed Christian Church (URCC), was licensed by the NUC on June 6, 2005.
The NUC-approved programmes include medical disciplines, to be offered by the University effective from the 2025/2026 academic session.
The new programmes include B.Sc. Anatomy; B.Sc. Human Physiology; B.Sc. Public Health; B.Sc. Orthotics and Prosthetics; B.Sc. Nursing Sciences; B.MLS. Medical Laboratory Sciences; and M.Sc. and PhD. Accounting.
Others are M.Sc. and PhD. Management; M.Sc. and PhD. Political Science; MPA and PhD. Public Administration; B.Ed. Guidance and Counselling; B.Ed. Educational Management; and B.Ed. Entrepreneurship Education.
Prof. Zacharys Gundu, Vice-Chancellor of UMM, told TNT that he was “extremely happy with this development as it gives the university the opportunity to leverage on the century-old Mkar Christian Hospital complex to continue a legacy of medical service to the people of the Middle Belt through capacity building”.
According to available information by the UMM News, the programmes will stabilise the university and distinguish it as a centre of excellence and a flagship faith-based institution whose niche is rural, underscoring the mandate of the NKST Church as a leading provider of education in the Middle Belt.
The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, called on “the Church and members to continue supporting the growth of the university”.
He also called on the Government of Benue State led by Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia “to extend viable support to the institution as doing so will be a recognition of NKST’s leading role in the delivery of education in the state and country”.
The Vice-Chancellor also appreciated the resilience of the staff and students of the university, expressing the hope that they will both redouble their efforts to distinguish the university as a leading faith-based institution in Nigeria.
