Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji, following the significant rise in the number of universities in the country, has given the National Universities Commission (NUC) a two weeks ultimatum to submit its agenda for improved quality assurance of the Nigerian University system.
The emergence of Nigerian private universities is seen as an attempt for marketization. There are concerns over the quality of such universities, their lecturers and students. Rarely producing research, private university owners are charged with being interested only in profit, targeting admissions with high tuition and fees.
One doesn't know whether to rejoice or be aghast at the news that the National Universities Commission (NUC), is to license three more private universities before the end of this year, bringing the total number of private universities to 26.
Chairman, Governing Council of the Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja, Mr. Babatunde Odufuwa has called on government at all levels to put necessary administrative structures in place to grant aids to students in private tertiary institutions in the country.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the establishment of five additional private universities to promote quality university education in the country.
The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday in Abuja approved the issuance of provisional licences for the establishment of seven new private universities in the country. Nigeria currently has 96 universities, comprising 27 federal, 35 state and 34 private universities.
National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 89 universities in the last 13 years. Among those approved between 1999 and 2012 by the agency are 50 private universities, 27states universities and 12 federal universities. This puts the total number of universities in Nigeria at 125.
We believe that the future of this nation lies with the private universities. When we say some of them are fledgling, it is because they will suffer from the pain of just beginning a programme, which forms the fulcrum of the issue.