Overview and History of NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State

 
Located in Kachia, a local government area in southern Kaduna State, NOK University was envisioned as a modern private institution dedicated to science, technology and innovation. Its setting in a less densely served region of Nigeria meant it promised to open fresh opportunities for students from Southern Kaduna and beyond. The region, with its rich heritage (notably the “Nok” terracotta civilization) and youthful population, offered fertile ground for a university that sought to combine academic rigour with local relevance.In its early days, NOK University aimed to be more than just another degree-awarding body. It sought to provide programmes in the applied sciences, ICT, computing and environment-oriented disciplines, equipping graduates for the rapidly changing labour market. The idea was to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skill, given that many Nigerian universities struggle with over-crowding, limited infrastructure or mismatches between output and employment.

For the community of Kachia and the wider region, the university’s presence promised both educational uplift and economic ripple-effects: new jobs, modern infrastructure, research collaborations, community engagement. For students, it offered the prospect of getting quality higher education near home, in a region that historically had fewer such options. But as we will see in the history section, the story took some unexpected turns — and the original private university status has been overtaken by federal action. Nevertheless, understanding NOK University remains useful for prospective students, alumni, and education-watchers alike because it illustrates both ambitions and challenges of tertiary education in Nigeria’s evolving landscape.

##Official Website
The web presence listed for NOK University was nuk.org.ng.According to sources, NOK University, Kachia (abbreviated NUK) had that domain listed. While the site may no longer be fully active (given the change in institution status), the website functioned as the institution’s official portal for information about admissions, programmes, campus news, and contact details during its private-university phase.

##Motto
In publicly available material the motto of the successor institution (formerly NOK University) is listed for the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia (which succeeded NOK) as “Knowledge and Innovation for Development.”While the exact motto of NOK University in its private phase may not be widely documented, the successor’s motto gives a clear sense of the values that the institution aspired to: focusing on applied knowledge, innovation, and development-oriented outcomes rather than purely traditional academic research.

##Founder
The founder of NOK University was Mr. Anthony Hassan, from Kaduna State. According to reports, he initiated the institution and it was registered as a private university. His vision — evidently rooted in establishing a regional higher-education institution focused on science, computing and applied disciplines — underpinned the early announcements of the university.

##History
NOK University officially emerged in 2021, when the licence for a private university in Kachia was granted. It was promoted as the first indigenous private university in southern Kaduna.

In its early months, the university’s Board approved the appointment of Prof. Ishaya Haruna Nock (a professor of Zoology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) as its first Vice-Chancellor and Mr. Obadiah Joshua as Acting Registrar. 
City Business News

From the outset, NOK University emphasised that its initial academic offerings would centre on science, computing, cyber-security and other applied fields. For example, the university’s founding statement said its academic activities would begin with departments such as Cyber Security, Physiology, Anatomy and other science-related courses. 

However — and this is a major turn in the institution’s story — in 2024 a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of the institution’s assets to the federal government, following allegations of improper financing through assets and funds linked to the promoter. 

In February 2025 the Federal Government officially took over NOK University and announced its conversion into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State

In short: NOK University (private) was established, opened for admissions, then within a few years found itself subject to legal proceedings, asset forfeiture, and re-designation as a federal institution under a new name and mandate. For students and stakeholders this means that some of the original programmes, accreditation status, and planning milestones may have shifted or been superseded. It reflects both the ambition of regional private higher education and the risk/regulatory complexities in Nigeria’s tertiary sector.

##Chancellor 
Specific public information about the Chancellor of NOK University (during its private phase) is limited or not widely documented. Many private universities in Nigeria list a Chancellor (often a prominent traditional or religious figure) and a Vice-Chancellor as the academic head. For NOK University, the publicly referenced academic head is Prof. Ishaya Haruna Nock (as Vice-Chancellor). 
City Business News

Given the publicly documented takeover by the federal government and renaming of the institution, the “Chancellor” role may have been superseded by a new governing framework under the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.

If one were to speculate based on the pattern of Nigerian universities, the Chancellor would serve a ceremonial role (often a prominent figure) while the Vice-Chancellor handles academics. But without reliable published data on the Chancellor of NOK University in its private phase, I cannot provide a definitive name or biography.

##Accreditation and Recognition
During its private-university phase, NOK University submitted for accreditation of its programmes under the oversight of the National Universities Commission (NUC). According to Wikipedia and other sources, NOK University’s 15 study programmes were reportedly accredited by NUC. 

However, given the subsequent forfeiture and takeover, the accreditation status may have been affected or required reassessment under the new federal university status. In its conversion to the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, the institution will likely undergo fresh resource verification and accreditation processes. For example, the NUC has acknowledged the conversion process. 

Prospective students should exercise caution: check the current and specific accreditation status of the programme they intend to study (whether under the former NOK University or the new institutional framework), and confirm with the NUC or the university’s official site.


##Academic Structure and Facilities
Although NOK University was relatively short-lived in its original form, and detailed publicly-available data on all its faculties and facilities is limited, the institution in its planning phase emphasised several structural and facility features:

Faculties/Departments: The university began with 

science

computing 


##Campus Life and Facilities
The campus of NOK University in Kachia was conceived to serve not just as a place of academic instruction but as a hub for student life, innovation and regional development. Some of the aspects include:

With the large land area (c. 109 hectares) the campus setting promised space for academic blocks, laboratories, student accommodation, green spaces and perhaps recreation facilities. 

Given the applied-science emphasis, students could expect practical labs and computing labs which feed into real-world skills rather than purely lecture-based learning.

The mention of ancillary assets (hotel, event centre, water-factory) in the asset portfolio suggests the campus was intended to be multi-functional: beyond student instruction, to include conference/workshop facilities, training centres, and possibly community engagement. 

Being in Kachia, in southern Kaduna — a region less saturated by higher-education institutions than many urban centres — the campus environment likely offered a quieter, potentially less congested setting, which is beneficial for focus, though infrastructure may have required further development.

For students, living in a newer institution means opportunity (to shape campus culture) but also potentially fewer established student clubs, traditions or mature hostel systems — something incoming students should factor in.

Given the change-over to federal status, incoming students may face transitions and evolving facilities, which means adaptability and staying updated via the university’s official communications is important.