In a recent development, the federal government has given the green light for the establishment of two new universities, expanding the private university count to 149 and the total number of universities nationwide to 274.
The newly approved institutions are Lighthouse University, situated in Evbuobanosa, Edo state, and the African School of Economics, located in Abuja. The announcement came during a ceremony in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu sanctioned the approval during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on December 13, 2023.
During the presentation of provisional licenses to these universities, Mamman emphasized the importance of aligning educational programs with current government priorities, particularly focusing on skills development and entrepreneurship.
He outlined a probationary period of three years, after which a substantive license would be issued contingent upon meeting quality assurance standards. However, failure to meet these standards within the probationary period could result in the withdrawal of the granted licenses.
Mamman highlighted the urgency of preparing for Nigeria’s projected population growth, emphasizing the pivotal role of education in this preparation. He expressed the government’s commitment to partnering with the private sector to bridge the gap in university education access and infrastructure development.
Addressing concerns about maintaining quality standards, Mamman urged the universities to adhere to best practices and ensure ongoing investment in infrastructure, teaching equipment, and human resources to achieve full accreditation.
Furthermore, Mamman issued a stern warning against certificate racketeering, pledging to prosecute individuals found with fake university certificates.
Chris Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), commended the unique contributions of private universities to Nigeria’s educational landscape.
He stressed the importance of adhering to NUC guidelines to prevent the proliferation of illegal universities. Maiyaki emphasized the social service aspect of establishing private universities and cautioned against compromising quality for profit motives, stating that any deviation from NUC guidelines would result in sanctions, including the withdrawal of provisional licenses.
The establishment of these new universities under the strict supervision of the NUC marks a significant step in enhancing the quality and accessibility of higher education in Nigeria.
