When Teodoro Obiang took over the government in a coup in 1979, he sought to expand access to higher education through strong cooperation with UNESCO and the Spanish government. This culminated in the transformation of ESMLK, in 1984, in University School of Training of the Teachers of Malabo (in spanish: "Escuela Universitaria de Formación del Profesorado de Malabo"). In addition, the National School of Agriculture (later the University School of Agricultural, Fisheries and Forestry) was created in 1987, with financing from the African Development Bank. The educational reforms proposed by UNESCO to Obiang also gave origin to the University School of Training of the Professors of Bata and to University School of Health and Environment.