NUC Gives Licenses To 20 Private Varsities

No fewer than 20 new private universities have been given provisional licenses by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to operate in Nigeria.

Edu-Biznews recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), during its meeting in February,presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari,  approved the establishment of 20 private universities in the country.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu speaking during the presentation of the licenses to the universities on Thursday at the NUC’s headquarters in Abuja, said the approval brought the number of private universities in Nigeria to 99 and a total of 197 universities.

The new private universities include,  James Hope University, Lagos; Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano; Capital City University, Kano; Ahman Pategi University, Pategi, Kwara State; and University of Offa, Kwara State.

Also  given provisional licenses are Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State; Maranathan University, Mgbidi, Imo State; Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State; and Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State.

Others are Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State; Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State; Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State; NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State; and Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State.

The rest of the private new universities are Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State; Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja; Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State; and ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State.

Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, explained that the provisional approval given to the universities was aimed at creating room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three years of their academic activities 

The new universities according to the minister, will be monitored during the three years period under the affiliation to older generation universities for academic and administrative mentoring to be moderated by NUC.

His words,“This is part of NUC‘s initiative for early-warning signals to detect compromises in quality for the application of corrective and remedial measures to redress such situations. Substantive licences will be issued to well-managed institutions after the three years of probation following their satisfactory performance and growth, within guidelines stipulated by the Commission,”