The National University Commission (NUC) has today issued provisional licenses to 20 newly approved private universities in Nigeria. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu while presenting the license to the beneficiaries at the NUC headquarters in Abuja said, with this approval, the number of private universities in Nigeria is now 99 out of the total 197 available.
The new universities that receive license today include; Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State; Maranathan University, Mgbidi, Imo State; Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State; and Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State.
others are; James Hope University, Lagos; Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano; Capital City University, Kano; Ahman Pategi University, Pategi, Kwara State; and Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State.
Amongst those who collected their license today also are; University of Offa, Kwara State; Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State; Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State; NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State; and Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State.
Also granted license were; Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State; and ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State; Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State; Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja.
An FEC meeting presided over by President Buhari had sometimes in February approved the establishment of the 20 more universities in the country.
The senior Minister who was represented by the state Minister, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said the approved licenses were meant to improve effective mentoring of education and qualitative growth within the first three years of operation, the minister added.
Nwajiuba said within this monitoring period, the new universities would be affiliated to the older generation once for the purpose of academic and administrative mentoring.
In his statement, “This is part of NUC‘s initiative for early-warning signals to detect compromises in quality for the application of corrective and remedial measures to redress such situations. Substantive licenses will be issued to well-managed institutions after the three years of probation following their satisfactory performance and growth, within guidelines stipulated by the Commission,”
He revealed that for a country with a population of 200 million people, Nigeria needs more universities to accommodate the teeming population, as private universities are strategic partners in the industry.
The Minister frowned against those who were of the opinion that private universities were becoming too much in Nigeria, saying that compared to our population, the numbers are not much.
He said, “Government is also well aware that countries that are consistently well-ranked in Human Development indices have, in recognition of the important role of Universities in human capital development, maintained a respectable number of Universities relative to their population,”
While making a comparison with other countries he said, “In relation to Nigeria’s population of over 200 million, the current 193 Universities is quite low when compared to those of other economies such as Brazil (209 million) 441 Universities, Mexico (126million) 375 Universities, Russia (1445 million) 741 Universities.
“In 2019, the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) announced that out of over 1.8 million candidates registered for the UTME, only 612,000 were admitted in Nigerian Universities representing 34%. This shows gross inadequacy in terms of access.”
He assured that the federal government will continue to work with the NUC to ensure that these universities are operating at standard ensuring that standards are not compromised.
Meanwhile, the executive secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, said the Nigerian University system has experienced a rapid expansion over the last two decades from less than 40 in 1996 to 197 presently.
Rasheed revealed that in considering the 20 new universities for licensing, the commission took adequate care to ensure the currency and relevance of their proposed academic programs in addressing the challenges of contemporary society.
He added that the NUC has also developed a code of governance for all the private universities which was identified to be the major threat of governance in most private universities.
He warned the proprietors against breach of the conditions for the approval.
The Minister said “Any unwholesome practice or operation outside the provisions of NUC guidelines is unacceptable and will attract appropriate sanctions,”
He said, “Proprietors should note that, beyond receiving the licenses, NUC will embark on a resource verification exercise to certify that the minimum human and material resources, required for the commencement of academic activities in the take-off programs, have been provided.”
The Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated NUC for the approval and pledged to keep to the mandate for the establishment of the universities