By Ola Kay
The National Universities Commission, NUC, says it is about to approve two additional varsities to the existing ones, making the total number to be 272, despite opposition raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU over such decision
Making the declaration in Abuja, the NUC’s acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, told newsmen that the body would continue to approve new universities to cater for the admission gaps in the country.
Maiyaki explained that about two million candidates seek admission into the Nigerian universities annually, while the total available quota for admission stands between 500,000 and 700,000.
It would be recalled that, prior to this time, the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sub-sector had kicked against the proliferation of higher institutions of learning in the country by the government at the Federal and State levels.
They queried that establishment of more universities despite inadequate funding would not augur well for the tertiary education sector and appealed to the government and the NUC to put approvals given to public universities on hold.
The NUC executive secretary said that, “We have no choice but to as a matter of deliberate policy undertake the massification of universities,” arguing that, developed countries of the world make sufficient investments in their education.
According to Maiyaki, while close to two million candidates seek for admission into the nation’s universities every year, only between 500,000 and 700,000 students get admitted to study various courses of their choice.
The NUC boss added that families of admission seeking candidates often face frustrations and anguish, in an effort to secure university.
He argued that this informed the reason the NUC would remain disposed to continue granting approval for the establishment of universities.
“The approval for two more varsities to bring the number of universities in the country to 272 has been concluded and will be announced next week,” stated Maiyaki.
The NUC executive secretary assured that the Commission will strive towards widening access by approving more universities to meet demands for quality education.
He specifically emphasized that nations such as Brazil, Indonesia and others whose population cannot be compared to that of Nigeria boast of 1,000 universities and above. He said that as part of efforts to meet the ever-growing demands for quality education and reposition the university system, the Commission would give a boost through transnational education, which would ensure that foreign varsities come in and operate in the country.
He also disclosed that the NUC is currently processing applications for the establishment of distance learning centres, which will in turn be monitored to deliver quality education in the country.
Mr. Maiyaki debunked insinuation that the outlined course action by the commission does not in any way indicate a return to the era of the establishment distance learning centres.
The announcement of the approval to operate will likely be made public next week, going by the NUC’s hint to journalists recently.
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