Nigerian universities are now 274, The Guardian has gathered.
A breakdown shows that while 62 are owned by the Federal Government, 63 are state-owned, while 149 belong to private individuals.
The investigation, yesterday, followed the presentation of provisional licences to two new private universities, Lighthouse University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State and African School of Economics, Abuja in the nation’s capital.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, assured that the government will continue to open the education space to cater for the nation’s ever-growing population.
Referencing Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey and Pakistan, the minister said the “number of universities in the country in relation to our population is relatively low.”
He added: “As you are probably aware, Nigeria currently has the largest economy in Africa with great potential. The country’s population is forecast to increase up to 400 million by the year 2050. This should therefore evoke a sense of urgency in preparation to cater for the needs of this anticipated population.”
“Government, being well aware that education holds the key to the preparation we speak of, will continue to welcome partnership with the private sector, especially in the area of university education.”
Mamman expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to achieving a university system that competes favourably with its contemporaries and embodies 21st century’s best practices globally.
Reminding the new institutions that the provisional licences were for three years, the minister advised them to sustain funding for improved infrastructure, teaching and learning equipment, as well as human resources to a level that could earn them full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and attract respect from relevant professional bodies.
He warned that the government would not hesitate to withdraw their licences in the event of unwholesome practices, urging them to prioritise skill and entrepreneurship development.
NUC’s Acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, noted that private universities bring a certain uniqueness to the educational landscape.
According to him, the commission has reviewed the curricula in universities, by upgrading the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) to Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) for optimal results.
