NUC gives provisional licences to four private universities

The National Universities Commission, has given provisional
approval to four new private universities to commence academic
programmes.

Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, NUC at the
presentation of the licences to the universities in Abuja on
Tuesday, said the four universities had been under scrutiny since
2006.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the universities are:
Greenfield University, Kaduna State, Dominion University, Ibadan,
Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State, and Westland University,
Iwo, Osun State.

With the approval, Nigeria now has 79 private universities, and
a total of 173 universities, private and public.

Rasheed underscored the need to increase the number of
universities in the country, taking into consideration the
country’s 200 million population.

He added that with the country’s population, only about two
million students can access university education.

“Only less than 6 per cent students’ enrolment is in private
universities.

“We hope the NUC work closely with you to ensure we introduce
courses that are more attractive to prospective students and more
appropriate to our current move to reposition the education system
in Nigeria.

“All over the world, private initiatives are welcome. Proper
education cannot be handled by government alone.

“The NUC is not ready to sacrifice quality on the altar of
access; we must ensure adherence to quality; we do not want to
encourage you to run the university with impunity.’’

Rasheed added that the commission was currently processing about
270 applications.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who spoke, said
the emergence of private universities had provided an environment
for heavy competition that stimulates improvement in quality
service delivery.

Represented by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, JAMB, Adamu said
the approval was a clear manifestation of the continued mutual
partnership between the government and private sector to ensure the
provision of quality education.

He noted that private universities in the country had
contributed immensely to the opening up of access to education over
the past 20 years.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the provisional licence for the
four universities to operate is intended to create room for
mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three years of
their operations.

“During the probation period, the four universities will be
attached to older generation universities for academic and
administrative mentoring.

“It should also be noted that substantive licence will only be
issued to the universities if they are adjudged of being worthy of
it after the three years of probation,’’ he said.

Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dominion
University, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated
the commission for the approval and pledged to keep to the mandate
for the establishment of the universities.

(NAN)