The federal government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) Friday, presented operational licences to 37 new private universities across the country.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed.
This is coming after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on May 15, 2023, approved the registration of 37 private universities across Nigeria.
With the development, the number of private universities operating in the country now stands at 147.
Professor Rasheed said the country now has 264 universities, noting that investment in tertiary education was a requirement for human capital development in Nigeria.
He said access to university education remains a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school graduates.
”The Nigerian statistics of high demand for tertiary education is grossly inadequate. Statistics put the number of enrollment in tertiary institutions at 2.23 million which is about 12 per cent of the total population of 220 million,” Rasheed said.
He challenged the proprietors of the newly established universities to ensure that the motive for establishing the universities were not for money but for a higher and noble goal.
”In establishing universities, you don’t expect to get financial rewards. If your main motive is to make money, then you are in a wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity.
”The establishment of private universities is in dire need of passion from people, so that passion should drive you.”
While charging the proprietors of quality assurance in the universities, the
The NUC Secretary assured of the commission’s support and cooperation to grow the university system even as he charged the proprietors ensure quality education in the institutions.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, said the Federal Government was committed to public private partnership, especially in education sector which gave rise to the new universities.
He said the gross total enrollment ratio stands at 12 per cent so there is a gap between demand and supply, and as long as this gap exists, government will continue to welcome proposals for university’s enrollment by credible group, but compromising not quality and minimum standards in those universities.
The new universities are: Phoenix University, Nasarawa state; Peaceland University, Enugu state; Amadeus University, Abia state; Vision University , Ogun state; Azman University, Kano state; Huda University, Zamfara state; Franco British International University, Kanduna; Canadian University of Nigeria, FCT; Rayhaan University, Kebbi state; Muhammad Kamalu-Deen University, Kwara state, among others.
