On assumption of office on May 29, 2003, the Governor Danjuma Goje-led government made clear its determination to ensure the provision of sound qualitative education in the state. This was particularly so, given the absence of any tertiary educational institution for hundreds of senior secondary school certificate holders at a time of stiffer competition for admission into institutions of higher learning that have Gombe State as one of their catchments states.

To this end, a Ministry for Higher Education was created to, among other things advice the government on modalities for establishing a state-owned tertiary institution(s).

This ministry set-up a 35 member Advisory Committee made up of stakeholders in the education industry, whose report led to the resolve of the State Executive Council to establish a State-owned University, as announced after its third meeting on Wednesday, October 29^th 2003.

The State Executive Council also agreed that the University should be on a single Campus, sited in the State Capital, Gombe. It also resolved that the University should be conventional to enable it accommodate the human-power needs of both the public and private sectors in the state and beyond.

Similarly, the State Executive Council in the same meeting, approved the constitution of a 24-memdber Technical and Planning Committee with the following 5-point terms of reference:

(i)                  To define the philosophy and design the concept of the State University;

(ii)                To identify and recommend to Government a suitable consultant to produce an Academic Brief for the University;

(iii)               To produce a Master-Plan for the physical development of the University;

(iv)              To liaise with the Committee of Goodwill Ambassadors with a view to advising Government periodically on issues pertaining to the University;

(v)                Any other matter relevant to the establishment of the University.

This Committee completed its assignment and submitted its report to the Gombe State Government on March 23, 2004, based on which an Implementation Committee was put in place to ensure a smooth take-off of the University.

With the passage of the bill for the establishment of Gombe State University by the State House of Assembly April 14, 2004, signing the bill into law by the Governor May 3, 2004 and the National Universities Commission’s recognition of the University May 7, 2004, the Implementation Committee paid full attention to the physical development as well as appointment of Vice-Chancellor and other Principal/Management staff for the Gombe University.

All government parastatals in the identified site for the University, which are located at Tudun Wada Quarters in Gombe metropolis, were relocated to allow for its speedy development.

This Committee continued its work until the University’s Governing Council was constituted and subsequently inaugurated on February 15, 2005.