Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the establishment of six new private universities, including a Naval University in Delta.

Education Minister, Alhaji Adamu Adamu announced this while briefing the State House Press Corps at the end of the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to him, the approvals are a result of the memo submitted to FEC by the Ministry.

The universities include: Admiralty University in Ibusa, Delta State, owned by the Naval Holding Company; Spiritan University in Nneochi, Abia State; and Precious Cornerstone University in Ibadan.

Also approved are PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt; Atibe University in Oyo town, Oyo State; and Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences, Lagos.

Adamu said more applications were received by the Ministry which would later present them to the Council for approval.

The Minister said that FEC had directed the National Universities Commission to look into the quality of courses offered by new and existing universities in the country.

According to him, the government would withdraw the registration of any university that failed to met the standard set for courses being offered.

Also Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, spoke on the recent visits by President Muhammadu Buhari to Cote d’Ivoire and Jordan.

He said that the Abidjan meeting involved top African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) nations and Heads of State who discussed on investing in the youth and sustainable development.

“There was a joint Africa Union – European Union declaration made, condemning the issues of slavery in Libya and an agreement for the two regions to put together a force to address slavery and human trafficking in the country.”

He said that both the EU and AU agreed to cooperate and address the challenges the two regions were facing with regards to the migration of a large number of Africans trying to get into Europe.

Onyeama also said the EU was developing a programme, with the private sector, to invest in Africa so as to increase job opportunities for the youth.

He noted that great emphasis was also placed on the relationship between AU and EU on the basis of mutual respect of the sovereignty of countries in both continents.

He said that President Buhari had meetings with some West African leaders where they discussed political stalemates in Togo and Liberia.

He added that Buhari also met with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel to discuss the issue of Nigerian illegal migrants in that country and the arrangement for their repatriation.

On the Jordan visit, he said that Buhari co-hosted the Akbar meeting with the King of Jordan on the processes dealing with finding solutions to terrorism, especially in West Africa.

He said that the summit discussed methods that would stop the radicalisation of the youth, the strengthening of the military in West African countries and other measures to secure their borders as well as evolving cyber policies to counter propaganda by terrorists.

He described the Jordan conference as important, adding that it was agreed that Abuja should host the forum next year. (NAN)

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