As the Federal Government considers applications for 270 new private universities to be established in the country, there is need to look beyond just granting the requests, with a view to ensuring that the standard of education, especially university education, is not compromised and the institutions are strong, well equipped to be able to perform their responsibilities to the society.

Education is one of the very crucial requirements of a country to progress and compete with other nations across the world. In particular, universities are considered to be centres where intellectuals, scholars use their ingenuity to invent solutions to problems of the society, beyond training scholars and leaders. Where this is the case, the country develops fast.

Although it is not the number of universities in a country that really matters but the capacity of those available to serve as solid foundation for rapid national development through innovations, discoveries and other feats, the requests for approval of more varsities is indeed an indication that more Nigerians are yearning for higher learning in the country amid limited available spaces.

The worry over proliferation of universities stems from the general belief that the institutions in Nigeria, particularly the private ones, are falling short of expectations of the government and the public in terms of infrastructure that is inadequate, low value for the huge fees that they charge, and poor contribution to national development.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) needs to come up with very strong criteria for establishing universities in the country, with a view to ensuring that the standard does not fall or is not sabotaged and the services are adequately delivered as should be. Beyond setting such criteria, NUC must closely monitor the institutions to make sure that they are not compromised.

The Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Dr. Chris Maiyaki, at a British Council workshop in Abuja recently, hinted that about 270 private universities had applied for licences to commence academic activities. The applications came despite public concerns over proliferation of mushroom universities and inadequate budgetary allocations to the education sector in general. If approved, the new request is estimated to bring the total number of universities in Nigeria to 528, among which 418 are privately owned. Findings showed that Nigeria currently has not less than 258 universities. Among them are 50 belonging to the Federal Government, 60 owned by the states and 148 owned by private individuals and organisations.

In the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, not less than 90 universities were approved for operations in the education sector. Lamentably, the increase in the number of universities over the years has not rubbed off on education standards.

By their nature, universities are drivers of socio-economic, cultural and political development, and global innovation. Basically, they bequeath academic skills, professional expertise and knowledge to generations of students through teaching, researching, and disseminating existing and new knowledge.

Among the worries is that Nigerian universities only focus on their traditional role of training scholars and leaders, the institutions have remained weak in the practical application of knowledge and are unable to respond to the demands of the complex contemporary job market, a reason millions of the nation’s university graduates are now roaming the streets jobless.

If the proposed 270 varsities are approved and the total in the country becomes 528, there ought to be an increase in competition among the institutions, which should lead to higher standards, but as the institutions increase in number, the standards seem to be decreasing.

Though the establishment of new universities would give the increasing candidates wider choices, and bring enrolments in schools to what the authorities can manage, there is need to upgrade the existing ones, especially those owned by federal and state governments to be able to really stand and serve the society remarkably as is the case in the developed countries. Not many people will worry much about the number of universities if they are seen to actually be competing with their counterparts across the world in terms of innovations that are proving effective in tackling some of the worrisome challenges at various segments of the society and several sectors of the economy.

The government must be stern with the criteria for establishing a university. It must establish the financial capability of those seeking to establish a university to be able to provide the necessary infrastructure for teaching and learning and meet all financial obligations. A survey by the NUC showed that only about 30 per cent of the country’s student population has adequate access to lecture theatres, laboratories and libraries. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had at several forums lamented that the pressure on available facilities has led to rapid deterioration and overcrowding across ivory towers in the country.

Today, many citizens believe that universities, especially by private owners, are established for commercial purposes, and it is the reason they charge fees that are beyond the reach of poor students. Emphasis must be on bequeathing to the students knowledge and skills that will make them self-employed, and make the country reap the increasing and modern benefits of education.

The NUC must look at the programmes of the new universities and see how they can solve problems. Their curricula should be such that they can make their graduates get jobs. It is sad that the universities now seem not to be useful to the country again because of the failure to provide solutions to problems. There should be close monitoring of the universities by the NUC. If any of them is found not measuring up to the standards, there should be sanctions.

The NUC must not allow a situation where private universities charge high fees but offer less in value. The commission must insist on recruitment of qualified professionals as lecturers. Some universities do not meet the criteria in terms of personnel. What they do is to poach lecturers from other universities to get their courses accredited. This is one of the reasons NUC must be alive to its regulatory and monitoring responsibilities.

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