The University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) made a major academic advance when the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved 17 new academic programmes.
Announced in July 2023, this approval expanded the courses offered at UNICROSS and marked another step in the university’s shift from its former identity as the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) to a more comprehensive university.
The NUC approved it after a Resource Verification visit in April 2023.
Professor Augustine Angba, then Vice-Chancellor, shared the news at the university’s 111th Regular Senate Meeting.
The new programmes include areas like media, science, management, computing, social sciences, and education.
This change is important because it gives prospective students more options beyond the university’s traditional technology-focused courses when choosing UNICROSS for their studies.
Contents
What Does the NUC Approval Mean for UNICROSS?
With NUC’s approval, UNICROSS received the go-ahead to start academic activities in these 17 new programmes.
This is not the same as just announcing plans to create a new course.
Before any Nigerian university can start a new academic programme, it must meet certain regulatory and resource standards.
The NUC Resource Verification was a key step in getting the 2023 approval.
According to the announcement, the new programmes were set to begin in the next academic session.
This change also shows how UNICROSS is moving in a new academic direction.
Instead of focusing only on technology, the university is now offering programmes in journalism, marketing, banking and finance, economics, sociology, entrepreneurship, and early childhood education.
List of the 17 New Programmes Approved for UNICROSS
The NUC-approved programmes announced in 2023 were:
- Broadcasting
- Journalism and Media Studies
- Marketing
- Animal and Environmental Biology
- Plant Science
- Microbiology
- Library and Information Science
- Human Kinetics
- Information Systems
- Peace Studies
- Sociology
- Entrepreneurship
- Banking and Finance
- Software Engineering
- Early Childhood Education
- Economics
- Industrial Chemistry
After the announcement, the university shared the full list, and several Nigerian education and news outlets reported on it.
Why the 17 New UNICROSS Programmes Matter
This approval matters for several reasons.
First, it gave prospective students more academic options.
For example, a student interested in journalism now has another university option in Cross River State.
Students interested in banking and finance, software engineering, economics, or marketing can also consider UNICROSS.
Second, this change supports the university’s wider transformation.
UNICROSS used to be called the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH).
In 2021, the state changed the name to University of Cross River State to reflect a broader academic focus, and the new programmes fit this new direction.
Third, these new programmes can open up opportunities for research, jobs, partnerships, and professional growth.
However, NUC approval does not guarantee a job or admission.
Each programme has its own admission rules, academic setup, and quality standards.
Broadcasting at UNICROSS
Broadcasting is one of the new programmes the NUC has approved.
The programme is relevant to students interested in radio, television, digital broadcasting, production and other forms of electronic media.
With the rise of online video, podcasts, streaming platforms, and digital news, broadcasting has changed.
Students in this field now face a media world that is much more than just radio and television.
This means UNICROSS can now train students for both traditional and new media industries through its broadcasting programme.
Journalism and Media Studies
Another approved programme is Journalism and Media Studies.
The course covers the wider media world, including journalism, reporting, communication, and how information is produced and shared.
Modern journalism is not just about newspapers anymore.
It now includes websites, social media, mobile reporting, multimedia storytelling, and digital publications.
The programme was among those later listed in UNICROSS’s 2026 accreditation results as having received full accreditation following the November/December 2025 exercise.
Marketing
Marketing was also included among the 17 programmes.
Marketing students can develop knowledge in areas such as consumer behaviour, branding, promotion, sales, market research and digital marketing.
This programme is especially useful today, as businesses rely more on online presence, customer relationships, and data-driven marketing.
Marketing was also among the UNICROSS programmes reported as receiving full accreditation in the 2025/2026 accreditation results announced in 2026.
Animal and Environmental Biology
The approval also covered Animal and Environmental Biology.
This programme combines topics related to animals, ecosystems, and environmental studies.
It supports academic and research interests in biodiversity, conservation, environmental management, and biological sciences.
The programme has since featured among those receiving full accreditation in UNICROSS’s latest reported NUC accreditation outcome.
Plant Science
Plant Science was another programme included in the original 17.
Plant science is important for agriculture, environmental management, biotechnology, conservation, and biological research.
In the university’s 2026 announcement of its latest accreditation exercise, the programme is referred to as Plant Science Biology and recorded an impressive 93.7 per cent, the highest score among the programmes highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor.
Microbiology
Microbiology was also approved.
Microbiology studies microorganisms and how they interact with humans, animals, plants, and the environment.
This field links to public health, food production, industrial processes, environmental management, and lab research.
Its inclusion expanded UNICROSS’s science offerings beyond the institution’s earlier technology-focused identity.
Library and Information Science
The NUC approval also included Library and Information Science.
This programme focuses on managing, organising, preserving, and using information.
Today, library science is about more than just books. Digital databases, electronic resources, information systems, and knowledge management are now key parts of the field.
This makes the programme particularly relevant in an increasingly digital academic and professional environment.
Human Kinetics
Human Kinetics was another programme on the approved list.
This field is about physical activity, movement, exercise, and human performance.
Adding this programme helps UNICROSS offer a wider range of courses in education, health, and human development.
Information Systems
Information Systems was also approved.
This programme brings together technology, organisations, and information management.
Unlike courses that only teach software development, Information Systems examines how organisations choose, implement, and use technology to work better.
The programme was among those that later achieved full accreditation in the 2025/2026 NUC accreditation outcome reported by the university and Cross River State authorities.
Peace Studies
The approval of Peace Studies added another social-science-oriented programme to UNICROSS.
Peace studies can include topics like conflict prevention, negotiation, peacebuilding, community relations, and ways to manage disputes.
This knowledge is useful in government, NGOs, community development, and international development settings.
The programme was later reported as Peace and Conflict Studies in UNICROSS’s 2026 accreditation announcement and received full accreditation.
Sociology
Sociology was also among the 17 new programmes.
Sociology studies society, social relationships, institutions, and patterns of human behaviour.
Students can learn about topics like family, education, culture, communities, organisations, and social change.
The programme was also listed among those receiving full accreditation in the university’s latest reported NUC accreditation exercise.
Entrepreneurship
Another notable addition was Entrepreneurship.
This programme is great for students who want to start businesses, run companies, or find business solutions to social and economic challenges.
Entrepreneurship Studies later recorded a 91.2 per cent score in the 2025/2026 accreditation exercise, ranking third among the departments highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor.
Banking and Finance
The NUC also approved Banking and Finance.
This programme prepares students for careers in banks, financial institutions, investment, financial analysis, and similar fields.
Banking and Finance was also among the programmes reported to have received full accreditation in the latest UNICROSS accreditation exercise.
Software Engineering
Software Engineering was one of the technology-focused programmes included in the expansion.
This programme focuses on designing, developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining software in a structured way.
Approving this programme was important because it allowed UNICROSS to expand its technology offerings beyond what it already had.
Software Engineering was also among the programmes reported as fully accredited in the 2026 accreditation announcement.
Early Childhood Education
The university also received approval for Early Childhood Education.
The programme focuses on teaching and learning during the early years of childhood.
It suits students interested in early childhood teaching, school administration, child development, and related education services.
However, there is an important update: the university’s 2026 accreditation report says the programme, referred to as Childhood Education, received Interim Accreditation, while the other programmes presented in that exercise received full accreditation.
This difference matters for students looking into the programme now.
Economics
Economics was another major addition.
Economics provides students with knowledge about production, consumption, markets, policy, resources and economic decision-making.
This programme can help students build a foundation for careers in banking, government, consulting, research, business, and development work.
UNICROSS reported that Economics was among the programmes that received full accreditation in the latest exercise.
Industrial Chemistry
The final programme on the 17-course list was Industrial Chemistry.
Industrial Chemistry links chemical knowledge to manufacturing and industrial processes.
This programme is useful for industries that use chemical processes, materials, and lab-based production.
Industrial Chemistry also appeared among the programmes that received full accreditation in the latest reported NUC exercise.
How NUC Approval Differs From Accreditation
Many people wonder if NUC approval and NUC accreditation are the same thing.
They are not the same.
The 2023 announcement concerned approval for UNICROSS to commence academic activities in 17 new programmes following a resource verification exercise.
Accreditation is a separate process in which the regulator checks whether a programme still meets required academic and institutional standards.
This distinction matters when discussing the current status of the 17 programmes.
In April 2026, UNICROSS announced that all programmes presented during the November/December 2025 accreditation exercise received full accreditation except Childhood Education, which received interim accreditation.
So, any article written today should not just call all 17 programmes “newly approved” without mentioning the later accreditation updates.
What the 17 New Programmes Mean for Prospective Students
For students considering an application, this expansion means more choices.
Students interested in technology can look at Software Engineering or Information Systems.
Those interested in business can explore Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Economics, or Banking and Finance.
Students who want to study media can consider Broadcasting or Journalism and Media Studies.
Applicants interested in science can look at Microbiology, Plant Science, Animal and Environmental Biology, or Industrial Chemistry.
If you are interested in education and human development, you can consider Early Childhood Education or Human Kinetics.
This variety of programmes shows that UNICROSS is now a much broader academic institution than it used to be.
Does NUC Approval Mean Students Can Automatically Apply?
Not always.
Just because a programme exists does not mean it will be available for admission every year.
Prospective students should always check the latest UNICROSS admission announcements, JAMB programme details, and the university’s admission portal before choosing a course.
They should also check the programme’s current accreditation status and the specific O’Level and UTME requirements.
This matters because academic programmes can undergo regulatory reviews, name changes, or accreditation updates over time.
Has UNICROSS’s Academic Expansion Continued?
Yes.
Approving these 17 programmes was just one part of UNICROSS’s wider academic expansion.
More recently, the university reported significant results from its November/December 2025 NUC accreditation exercise.
According to the 2026 announcement, programmes including Economics, Peace and Conflict Studies, Sociology, Banking and Finance, Entrepreneurship Studies, Marketing, Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Studies, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Animal and Environmental Biology, Industrial Chemistry and Plant Science Biology received full accreditation.
The university also shared that Plant Science Biology, Animal and Environmental Biology, and Entrepreneurship Studies had especially strong results.
This shows that the story of the 17 programmes continued after the 2023 approval.
Many have since moved forward through the university’s quality checks.
Frequently Asked Questions About UNICROSS’s 17 New Programmes
When did UNICROSS receive approval for the 17 new programmes?
The approval was announced in July 2023, following a NUC Resource Verification visit conducted in April 2023.
Who approved the new UNICROSS programmes?
The National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria’s university regulatory body, approved the programmes.
How many new programmes did NUC approve for UNICROSS?
NUC approved 17 new programmes for commencement at UNICROSS.
What were the new courses approved for UNICROSS?
They were Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Studies, Marketing, Animal and Environmental Biology, Plant Science, Microbiology, Library and Information Science, Human Kinetics, Information Systems, Peace Studies, Sociology, Entrepreneurship, Banking and Finance, Software Engineering, Early Childhood Education, Economics and Industrial Chemistry.
Why was the approval important?
It expanded UNICROSS’s academic offerings and gave students more opportunities in fields beyond the university’s former technology focus.
Was UNICROSS formerly called CRUTECH?
Yes. The university was formerly called the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) before it became the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
The name was changed to reflect a broader academic mission.
Did the 17 programmes start immediately after NUC approval?
The 2023 announcement stated that the approved programmes were scheduled to commence in the next academic session.
Has NUC accredited the new UNICROSS programmes?
Several programmes were reported to have received full accreditation following the November/December 2025 exercise announced in 2026.
Childhood Education received interim accreditation in that exercise.
Which UNICROSS programme performed best in the latest accreditation exercise?
According to the university’s 2026 announcement, Plant Science Biology recorded the highest score at 93.7 per centamong the highlighted programmes. Animal and Environmental Biology followed with 92.9 per cent, while Entrepreneurship Studies recorded 91.2 per cent.
Final Conclusion
The NUC’s approval of 17 new programmes was a major milestone for the University of Cross River State.
The 2023 approval added new courses in media, business, social sciences, education, biological sciences, computing, and industrial chemistry.
It also showed the university’s shift from its old CRUTECH identity to a more traditional university with a wider academic focus.
The 17 approved programmes were Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Studies, Marketing, Animal and Environmental Biology, Plant Science, Microbiology, Library and Information Science, Human Kinetics, Information Systems, Peace Studies, Sociology, Entrepreneurship, Banking and Finance, Software Engineering, Early Childhood Education, Economics and Industrial Chemistry.
More importantly, the story did not end with the original approval.
The latest accreditation results show that many of these programmes now have full accreditation, while Childhood Education received interim accreditation.
If you are thinking about studying at UNICROSS, remember not to rely only on old lists of approved programmes.
Always check the current programme name, admission availability, UTME requirements, and accreditation status before you apply.
Be the first to comment