The Senate on Monday gave a nod to the suggestions by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the creation of more universities across the country.
The Upper Chamber’s decision followed requests by stakeholders in the education sector for the proposed Federal University, Okigwe in Imo State.
The requests were aired at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Muntari Dandutse, sponsor of the bill seeking for the establishment of the Federal University Okigwe, Senator Patrick Ndubueze and the NUC Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, called for the establishment of more Universities in Nigeria to meet up with the demand for University education by millions of Nigerians.
The NUC Executive Secretary in his presentation said available statistics show a huge deficit of the required number of Universities in Nigeria.
“There are 275 Universities both public and Private for over 2 million prospective students seeking admission on yearly basis.
“The implication is that on yearly basis, out of the 2 million prospective students seeking for University admission, only 500, 000 to 700, 000 are absolved, leaving about 1.3million out of the equation with attendant frustrations .
“Nigeria definitely needs more Universities, as the 275 existing ones, are just too inadequate for her population of 200 million .
“Indonesia, which also has over 200 million population like Nigeria, has about 2,000 Universities, not to talk of Russia, Brazil, India with hundreds of thousands of Universities “, he said.
He added that the required expansion of regulatory and capacity building for more Universities are already being put in place by NUC.
Senator Dandutse, earlier in his remarks said the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, would help to make University Education more accessible to Nigerians in Imo State in particular and across the country generally.
Senator Ndubueze in his own remarks said the proposed University will give Okigwe town the required transformation it deserved over the years being the only Province of the past that have not been accorded federal presence let alone made capital of a state like many others.
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