The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) has appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade the institution to a National University of Mathematical Sciences (NUMS).
The Governing Council Chair, Prof. Edna Williams-Njoku, stated that the move would enhance Nigeria’s capacity to produce high-quality manpower in the fields of mathematics and science. Speaking after the Council’s first quarterly meeting in Sheda, Kwali, Abuja, she stated that the Centre had lagged in infrastructure development, despite being established around the same time as the University of Abuja.
Prof. Williams-Njoku commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for including NMC in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention, describing it as a step toward revitalising the institution.
She, however, urged the government to prioritise NMC’s funding in future budgets, saying, “Mathematics is the engine of development for any nation. We must create the right environment to attract top scientists from across the world.”
The Council also pledged to support the NMC Director-General, Prof. Promise Mebine, in sustaining academic leadership and pushing for the Centre’s transformation into a full-fledged university dedicated to advancing mathematical sciences.
