Abuja, June 9, 2023 – A total of 37 newly established universities were on Friday given provisional licence by the National Universities Commission (NUC)
The universities were given approval by the Federal Executive Council on May15, 2023.
Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary of NUC, who was speaking at the presentation of the provisional licenses to the universities, said the number of peg of private universities in the country had been pegged at 147.
He said there were 264 universities in the country now, adding that investment in tertiary education was a prerequisite for human capital development..
Rasheed said access to university education remained a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school leavers.
” The Nigerian statistics of high demand of tertiary education is grossly inadequate.
“Statistics put the number of enrollments in tertiary institutions at 2.23 million which is about 12 per cent of the total population of 220 million.”
He advised promoters 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 the wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity.
Rasheed said the country now had 264 universities, adding that investment in tertiary education was a prerequisite for human capital development..
He said access to university education remained a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school leavers.
”The Nigerian statistics of high demand of 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.”
He advised promoters of the newly established universities to ensure that the motive for creating 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 the 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 on quality assurance in the universities, the NUC boss assured of the commission’s support and cooperation to grow the university system.
David Adejo, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said the federal government was committed to public private partnership, especially in the education sector which gave rise to the new universities.
Adejo said this was in a bid to increase access to university education.
Adejo said that the gross total enrollment ratio stood at 12 per cent so there is a gap between demand and supply and “as long as this gap exists, the government will continue to welcome proposals for university’s enrollment by credible groups.”
He said the government would ensure that quality assurance and minimum standards in those universities were not compromised.(GBN)
