From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued provisional license to two newly proposed private universities, Light House University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State, and African School of Economics, Abuja, respectively, thus bringing the total number of private universities in Nigeria to 149, and the total number of universities in Nigeria to 265.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who presented the provisional certificate to the proprietors of the university congratulated them for the successfully meeting the criteria for the establishment of private university in Nigeria.
He, however, informed them that the provisional license is for three years, and could be withdrawn if they fail to meet the minimum expectations as highlighted by NUC.
He said: “The provisional approval for these two universities is intended to create room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three years of operation. During this period, the new universities will be affiliated to older generation Universities for academic and administrative mentoring which will be moderated by NUC. This is part of NUC’s initiative for early-warning signals to detect compromises in quality so that corrective and remedial measures to redress such situations will be promptly applied.
“Substantive licences will be issued to well-managed institutions after a three-year probationary period, perhaps, following their satisfactory performance and growth within guidelines stipulated by the Commission.
“The mentor institutions would be expected to assist the new universities in areas of recruitment of human and material resources for commencement of academic programmes; implementation of carrying capacity; assistance in staff development; moderation of student examination and the results; general quality assurance activities; moderation of admission; external examination moderation; among others as the need arises.
“I have no doubt that, having gone through the arduous and tasking processes leading to this day, you have braced yourselves to tackle the challenges of operating the universities in accordance with laid down guidelines.
“We cannot overemphasise the need to ensure that admission of students, with regards to undergraduate programmes, is carried out through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“It is advised that upon commencement of academic activities, you should sustain funding towards improving your infrastructure, equipment for teaching and learning, as well as human resources up to a level that will earn your University Full accreditation by NUC, and recognition from other relevant professional bodies.
“Your students are the primary stakeholders, hence proper care should be taken to create and maintain conducive campus environment that will enable them cultivate critical life skills and the core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and sound judgement.”
Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, in his remarks, confirmed that the two newly licensed universities successfully passed through the established 14 step-process to earn the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and issuance of the provisional Licence.
He said: “This gruelling process has greatly evolved since 1999 when the first set of private universities were licensed. However, what remains unchanged is the pivotal role of quality education in the overall development of a Nation. Our continued partnership with the private sector, continues to emphasise this.
“Deliberate and result-oriented investment in quality higher education is a prerequisite to the production of the required human capital with the capacity to drive a sustainable socio-cultural and economic development of our country.
“Even with a total of 265 universities in Nigeria as at today, access to university education remains a challenge in the education sector in Nigeria due to the high demand for degree education from an increasing number of secondary school graduates, and even graduates of Polytechnics and Colleges Of Education.
“Records show that the number of applications for university admissions for the 2023 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) was 1,635,688, out of which only 527,929 representing 37.2 per cent gained admission to universities in Nigeria. So, the journey ahead is a long one.
“Nigeria is thus still grossly deficient in access to the university education sub-sector, which is the highest producer of the skilled level manpower required to activate and sustain the socioeconomic transformation of the country.”
Meanwhile, the former NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, congratulated the newly licensed universities, and informed them that the future of Nigeria education system is in private universities, hence they should take advantage of that to make their mark in the sector.