The National Universities Commission (NUC) has presented provisional licenses for the newly established 37 universities approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 15.
Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, at the presentation of the licenses, pegged the number of private universities in the country at 147.
Rasheed, who said the country now has 264 universities, said investment in tertiary education was a prerequisite for human capital development in the country.
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He said access to university education remained a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school leavers.
He said, “The Nigerian statistics of high demand of tertiary education is grossly inadequate. Statistics put the number of enrolment in tertiary institutions at 2.23 million which is about 12 per cent of the total population of 220 million.”
He charged proprietors of the new universities to ensure that the motive for creating them is 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,” he said.
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.
The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, said the federal government was committed to public private partnership, especially in the education sector which gave rise to the new universities.
He said this was in a bid to increase access to university education.
Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-shaq Oloyede, urged the proprietors to start on a good note while following procedures and standards.
Oloyede also urged them never to outsource their admissions but follow the admission procedure.
List of the new universities
The universities are – Rayhaan University, Kebbi; Muhammad Kamalud University Kwara; Sam Maris University, Ondo; Aletheia University, Ago-Iwpye Ogun State; and Lux Mundi University Umuahia, Abia State.
Others are – Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State; PeaceLand University, Enugu State; Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State; Vision University, Ikogbo, Ogun State; and Azman University, Kano State.
Also granted provisional approval are – Huda University, Gusau, Zamafara State; Franco British International University, Kaduna State; Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja; Miva Open University, Abuja FCT; and Gerar University of Medical Science Imope Ijebu, Ogun State.
British Canadian University, Obufu Cross River State; Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Sagbama, Bayelsa State; Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State; Wigwe University, Isiokpo Rivers State; and Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemisi, Ekiti State.
Also are the University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra state, Elrazi Medical University Yargaya University, Kano State, Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Shanahan University Onitsha, Anambra State, The Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State, Mercy Medical University, Iwo, Ogun State, Cosmopolitan University Abuja and Iconic Open University, Sokoto State.
Others include, West Midlands Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Amaj University, Kwali, Abuja, Prime University, Kuje, FCT Abuja, College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna State, Jewel University, Gombe state, Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa, Lagos State, Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja and Al-Bayan University, Ankpa, Kogi State.
