University Of Agricultural Sciences And Technology Ihug: Unique Development, Inspiring Vision
The University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Ihug, Benue State, also known as Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (BUSAST), is a state-owned university located in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area. It was approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2025 and is expected to contribute significantly to the nation’s agricultural development.
The university aims to become a centre of excellence in agriculture, science, technology, and entrepreneurship, equipping students with practical skills and innovative capacities needed for economic advancement.
Governor Hyacinth Alia established the institution to boost the state’s economy, ensure food security, and create jobs.
The university matriculated 668 pioneer students in June 2026.
It offers a range of undergraduate programs across various schools. These are the School of Agriculture, which offers the following courses:
Agricultural Economics and Farm Management; Animal Science; Agronomy; and Food Science
The School of Science run degree programmes in Biotechnology; Environmental Science; Biochemistry; and Microbiology.
The university’s School of Innovation is conducting courses in AgTech; Research and Development; Entrepreneurship; and Sustainable Solutions, while the School of Technology runs degrees in Agricultural Engineering; Food Technology; IT; Renewable Energy.
Other schools include School of Computing and Innovation, School of Sustainable Forestry and Green Economy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and School of Clinical Sciences.
The university has also received approval for 34 new undergraduate programs, which will be offered across four academic schools.
No doubt, the task ahead is huge and ambitious. It will need focus, strategic thinking, and the deployment of the right skills to make success of this huge endeavour.
For the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Leonard Shilgba,a professor of Mathematics, they are ready for the challenge of nurturing this young university into a global centre of excellence. And he is not joking.
First, they are laying a solid administrative foundation to drive the vision. In the words of the acting Vice-Chancellor, the immediate task is to stabilize the university in terms of academic development, staff harmony, and engagement with the community.
Next is making the students comfortable enough to pursue their dreams as the university set for the commencement of the second semester.
On this, Prof Leonard Shilgba said, “We are going to have the preparatory curricula that we have developed approved through the appropriate organs of the university. The next is getting our three academic documents approved.”
The next important part of the consolidation is getting the right academic staff from across the world before the commencement of the second academic session.
“We hope to bring in the right faculty and staff, both within Nigeria and outside, and establish an endowment for the university in order to guarantee fiscal sustainability of the university so that it does not depend on the government fully, like other universities do. “So, we are trying to ring-fence the university to be able to support much of its activities and programs.”
The Vice-Chancellor is upbeat on this, fully confident of the progress being made by the young university in the realisation of its vision.
“Within the next 100 days, we hope to have the signs out there for everyone to see, engaging both parents and students, letting them understand the direction that we are taking.”
The direction is clearly taking shape. Structures are being put on ground, administrative layout spread out, with purposeful academic programmes already taking roots.
