By Ngozi Nwankwo
No fewer than 37 Nigerian private universities had received provisional licences to commence academic activities.
The newly established private universities approved by the Federal Executive Council on May 15 would bridge the wide gap in demand and supply of admission in the tertiary education.
Presenting the licence to the universities, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof Abubakar Rasheed said investment in tertiary education pre-requisite for human capital development in the country.
It was gathered that Nigeria has 264 universities while 147 of them are private universities.
The NUC boss said the access to university education remained a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school graduates.
He urged proprietors of the newly established universities to ensure the purpose of establishing was driven by passion rather than for financial gains as that would defeat the realisation of the objective.
“In establishing universities, you don’t expect to get financial rewards. If the main motive is to make money, then you are in a wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity.
” The establishment of private universities is in dire need of passion from people so that passion should drive you,” said Rasheed.
The ES, therefore, harped on the need for quality assurance in the universities, while reiterating the Commission’s support in improving the tertiary education in the country.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo Congratulated the proprietors of the newly created universities while assuring them federal government’s readiness to partner with them.
” The gross total enrolment ratio stands at 12 percent so there is a gap between demand and supply and as long as this gap exists government will continue to welcome proposals for universities’ enrolment by credible group,” said Adejo.
He said the government would ensure that quality assurance and minimum standards in the 37 private universities were not compromised, urging proprietors to channel efforts on a good starting to attain the goal of establishing the universities.
In his goodwill message, the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof Is-shaq Oloyede advised the universities to follow procedure and standard
He urged them to not outsource their admission but follow the admission procedure. The newly licensed universities include Rayhaan University, Kebbi State, Lux Mundi University, Abuja state, Muhammad Kamalu- Deen University, Kwara state, Sam Maris University, Ondo state, Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state, Maduka University, Enugu state, Peaceland University, Enugu state, Canadian University of Nigeria, FCT.
Others include: Azman University, Kano state, Vision University, Ogun state, Amadeus University,Abia state, Huda University, Zamfara state and many others.