NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES HITS 298 02-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu Private universities in the country have been urged to provide high quality education that fosters innovation and aligns with the needs of a modern economy.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, made the call in Abuja at the presentation of licences to the eleven newly approved private universities.
Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of redirecting Nigeria’s higher education towards priority fields that equip students with life skills to build infrastructure, and positively impact lives.
He said ”A university is not just about building, or ceremonial titles, a true university must be centred on knowledge creation, talent development and innovation”.
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu explained that the provisional status to the universities was subject to three years close monitoring and called for action in building a future ready and globally competitive Nigerian university system.
”Please be aware that the commission will not hesitate to apply appropriate and necessary sanctions including the withdrawal of this provisional licence should there be any credible evidence of non-compliance with the regulations, operations that clearly establish the bounds of our regulatory framework”. Ribadu said.
Meanwhile, one of the newly licensed Universities, Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management has promised to manufacture the first made-in-Nigeria aircraft.
Renowned aviator and former National President of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Isaac Balami, who thanked President Bola Tinubu for the licence and taking the critical step in reviving the nation’s once-thriving aviation sector, said the university was poised to produce world-class aeronautical professionals.
Afdica247 correspondent reports that Nigeria now has 298 universities with 159 privately owned.