By the 1970s, the projections of the Ashby Commission report were found to be unrealistic, particularly on student enrollment and course offerings, motivating the establishment of the so-called "Second Generation Universities".
By the early 1980s, the Federal Government had attempted to establish a university in each of the then 19 States.
In 2007, the former State Governor Ahmad Adamu Muazu created a Planning and Implementation Committee.
In October 2008, Governor Isa Yuguda initiated another committee to resume the effort.
The law establishing the university was passed by the Bauchi State House of Assembly and approved by Governor Isa Yuguda on 31 December 2010.