Federal Government Approves Nine New Private Universities

According to Premium Times, nine new universities have been given provisional licences to operate in Nigeria bringing the total of private universities in the country to 59. At the presentation of provisional licenses, the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau was said to have stated that the licenses were intended to create room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the first five years of operation adding that the universities would be mentored on academics and administration and the programme moderated by the National Universities Commission. He also stated that the newly approved private universities will be affiliated to older generation universities for mentoring and that substantive licenses would only be issued to well-managed institutions after three years of probation following their respective performance and growth within guidelines stipulated by the commission. “This is part of NUCs initiative for early-warning signals to detect compromise in quality for the application of corrective and remedial measures to redress such situations,” Mr. Shekarau said. He advised that proper maintenance of the hostels, cafeteria, toilets and other facilities in the universities should not be compromised as this will enable students cultivate decent behaviours and manners in addition to academic excellence. The Minister added that upon commencement of academic activities, the universities should sustain funding towards improved infrastructure, equipment for teaching and learning. He said human resources up to a level that would earn accreditation by NUC and other relevant professional bodies should also be improved. Mr. Shekarau noted that the growth of private universities in Nigeria had created an environment for healthy competition that has stimulated improvement in quality service delivery in the system. The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Julius Okojie, expressed surprise that there were Ph.D. graduates in the country who remained unemployed. “We are going to open a portal now for those who are Ph.D. holders to apply to us for jobs,” Mr. Okojie said. “We also encourage professors in Diaspora to come here and lecture.” He also advised new universities to approach the NUC if faced with any difficulties. The Minister of State for Education, Viola Onwuliri, advised that the institutions should have quality entrance examinations for students. “We call on parents and teachers to ensure that the young ones, especially in this time and age where society has continued to distract people through electronic devices, help them to become the leaders of tomorrow that Nigeria will want to have,” she said. The newly approved universities are: Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos; Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State; Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State; Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State; Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun State; Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Owhrode, Delta State; Mountain Top Unversity, Makogi/Oba Ogun state; Ritman University, Ikot-Epene, Akwa- Ibom State and Summit University, Offa, Kwara State.    

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This article was first published on 6th March 2015

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