Maryam Abeeb, Abuja
The federal Government has presented provisional licenses to the twenty new private universities recently approved by Federal Executive Council.
It would be recalled that the federal government had on February 2021, approved the establishment of 20 new private universities.
Nigeria will now have a total of 99 private tertiary institutions.
The Minister of education, Adamu Adamu in his remark said the approval of the establishment of these universities is a testimony to the continued partnership of the federal government with the private sector.
The Minister who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of state, Hon Chukwu emeka Naajiuba urged the proprietors to live up to the standard of NUC, noting that quality assurance should not be compromised.
The approved universities are,Topfaith University Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom, Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara, Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Imo, Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa, Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano, Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo, Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River, Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo.
Also on the list are, NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna, Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau, James Hope University, Lagos, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Capital City University, Kano, Ahman Pategi University, Kwara, University of Offa, Kwara.
Others are; Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa, Edusoko University, Bida, Niger, Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja, Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa and Anan University, Kwall, Plateau
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed noted that the approval was a landmark achievement for Nigerian universities.
The NUC boss appreciated the positive roles of private universities in the provision of quality university education in the country.
He stressed that the federal government is committed to increase access to university education through partnership with the private sector.
He commended the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu for deploying his goodwill to convince the Federal Executive Council to approve the universities.
He however warned that the NUC will not tolerate any unwholesome practices outside the commission’s guideline from the proprietors of the approved universities.
‘’ The NUC is well aware of the need for the nation’s Universities to sustain the quality of their programs along with the quantitative expansion. This is the reason why today’s event is coming a little over three years, after licenses were issued to the last four private universities that came on board in 2019.
‘’ Consequently , in processing today’s 20 universities for licensing NUC took adequate care to ensure the currency and relevance of their proposed academic programmes in addressing the challenges of contemporary society.
‘’ The Commission has also continued to review its processes, towards entrenching appropriate monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with quality assurance standards for the establishment and operation of private universities,’’ he stated.
