The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced its commitment to addressing the significant gap between the demand and supply of university education in Nigeria by continuously approving the establishment of new universities.
Chris Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, revealed this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Thursday evening.
Maiyaki disclosed that the Commission has finalized approval for two additional universities, bringing the total number of universities in the country to 272, with an official announcement expected next week.
He emphasized the necessity of expanding university access, citing the substantial disparity between the number of candidates seeking admission and the limited available slots.
Maiyaki highlighted the challenges faced by families and prospective students due to the intense competition for university admission, underscoring the imperative for ongoing approval of new universities.
He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing access to quality education by approving more universities, drawing parallels with countries like Brazil and Indonesia, which boast over 1000 universities despite having smaller populations.
Furthermore, Maiyaki discussed efforts to revitalize the university system through transnational education initiatives, including the facilitation of foreign universities operating in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary also mentioned the commission’s current processing of applications for distance learning centers, aimed at providing monitored quality education.
Addressing concerns raised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding tuition fees charged in dollars by some private universities, Maiyaki clarified that Nigerian universities are prohibited from such practices.
He reassured the public that the NUC thoroughly investigated the allegations and confirmed that the mentioned university only charges dollars to foreign students, not for tuition fees.
He urged the media to disseminate this information to clarify misconceptions surrounding tuition fee policies in Nigerian universities.
