152 varsities grossly inadequate in Nigeria – Minister

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Onwukah, says the 152 universities in the country today are grossly inadequate in relation to demand and thus more of the institutions are needed to increase access to tertiary education. 

 

The minister noted this in Abuja on Tuesday at the presentation of provisional licenses to the eight newly approved private universities at the National Universities Commission (NUC) head office.

He said: “With these eight, it means the ratio of the universities in relation to population is 1 for 23 million people, a challenge that must be addressed, considering the huge population of Nigeria conservatively put at 170 million today.”

 

The minister however, warned the universities and their proprietors not to cut corners, saying, where cases of infractions are established, appropriate sanctions would apply. 

 

While urging them to appoint governing councils, implement their carrying capacity without compromise as well as moderation of admissions amongst others, he reminded them that the new licenses were revocable.

 

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, also warned the proprietors against subjecting their academic staff to degrading treatment and other forms of practices inimical to democratic freedom. While thanking the proprietors of the new varsities, he described their investment in education as an indication of their belief in the Nigerian state, saying its investment in the socio-cultural, religious, political and ideological development of the nation.

 

  He said: “What is being issued today is a provisional license with a lifespan of three years,” adding that in line with global best practices, the new universities would be mentored by older ones for the next couple of years. 

The NUC boss urged the varsities to embark on new programmes that are not readily available in the older ones and pledged the support of the NUC in that regard.