THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued provisional licenses to 11 newly approved private universities.
The licenses were formally presented today, Wednesday, April 30, at the NUC auditorium in Abuja.
While speaking during the presentation, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Abdullahi Ribadu said there was a growing need for private universities to cater to Nigeria’s youthful population.
He stressed that private universities had significantly expanded the nation’s academic landscape since 1999.
“From just 49 universities in 1999, 23 of which were private, Nigeria now boasts of 298 universities, with 159 (53.3 per cent) being privately owned. The catalyst for this expansion is the increased participation of the private sector,” he said.
According to Ribadu, the provisional license is subject to permanent approval after thorough evaluation.
“The provisional status is subject to close monitoring by the NUC, with full licenses to be granted only after a thorough evaluation of each institution’s compliance with regulatory standards,” he said.
The latest development expands private universities in the South-West, South-East, and South-South regions, which already had the highest number of private institutions in the country, according to data on the number of private universities from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The 11 new private universities include New City University, Ayetoro, Ogun State, University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Eranova University, Mabushi, FCT and Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun Annexe.
It also consists of Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara State; Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State; and Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun State.
Others are Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City, Edo State; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos; and Kevin Eze, University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
In March, The ICIR reported that the Federal Government has granted provisional licences to 11 new private universities, which brought the total number of private universities in Nigeria to 160.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, announced the approval in a statement on Monday, March 3, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
With the approval of 11 new private universities and now the issuance of the licenses, the North-Central region now has 36 private universities, including the three new universities approved for it.
The North-East and North-West did not benefit from the 11 new universities.
This means that the number of private universities in the North-West and North-East remains at 19 and five, respectively, according to data from the NUC.
Similarly, with the new approval, the South-West now has 52 private universities, up from its initial 47. The South-South has 25, with the addition of two new institutions, while the South-East hosts 23, having previously had 22.
Speaking with journalists after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that the newly approved universities completed the NUC’s ‘rigorous’ 13-step assessment process before being granted their licences.
Meanwhile, Alausa, disclosed that a moratorium had been placed on the approval of additional private universities.
He further clarified that pending applications already advanced in the NUC’s approval process would still be reviewed.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M