Two more private universities have been approved by the Federal Government, bringing the total number of Universities in Nigeria to 274.
The breakdown shows that Nigeria now has 149 private, 63 State, and 62 federal universities.
The newly approved universities are Lighthouse University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State, and the African School of Economics, FCT.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman while presenting Provisional Licenses to the two universities in Abuja on Thursday said the two universities were approved at the Federal Executive Council on December 13, 2023
Mamman said a substantive licence would be issued to the universities, if they meet the requirements of quality assurance three years after probation and urged the proprietors of the universities to capture skills and entrepreneurship which are the focus of the government.
The minister warned that the provision of the licenses may be withdrawn if they fail to meet the full requirements.
“This should therefore evoke a sense of urgency in preparation to cater to the needs of this anticipated population.
“As long as the gap of access to University education continues to widen and the enrolment of students over the standard carrying capacity of the Nigerian University System persists, the government will continue to welcome proposals for the funding and infrastructural development,” he said.
The minister noted that the country’s population is forecasted to increase up to 400 million by 2050.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of, the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, said private universities bring a certain uniqueness to the Nigerian university landscape.
Maiyaki said the ministry through the commission embarked on radical reengineering of curricula to meet the best global standards, to encouraged the innovative posture of some of these private universities.
“It is also pertinent that the establishment of more private universities, under the strict supervision of the NUC is an important antidote to the proliferation of illegal universities or degree mills across the country.
“I wish to enjoin you to acquaint yourselves with the code of governance for private universities which aims to enhance the successful running and sustainability of institutions.
“It has been further reviewed to give some latitude to the proprietors on the issue of appointment of principal officers.
“We continue to reemphasize and stress that the venture of establishing private universities is not for profit, it is a social service and a journey of passion,” he said.
