By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The National Universities Commission (NUC) earlier today, Friday, June 9, 2023, gave provisional licences to the newly established 37 universities approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 15.

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, at the presentation of provisional licences to the universities, said that the number of private universities in the country now stood at 147.

Rasheed, who said that the country now has 264 universities, said that investment in tertiary education was a pre-requisite for human capital development in the country.

He said that access to university education remained a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school graduates.

“The Nigerian statistics of high demand of tertiary education is grossly inadequate. Statistics put the number of enrollment in tertiary institutions at 2.23 million which is about 12 per cent of the total population of 220 million,” he said.

Rasheed charged the proprietors of the newly established universities to ensure that the motive for creating the universities were not for money but for a higher and noble goal.

“In establishing universities, you don’t expect to get financial rewards. If your main motive is to make money, then you are in a wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity.

“The establishment of private universities is in dire need of passion from people, so that passion should drive you,” he added.

While charging the proprietors of quality assurance in the universities, the NUC boss assured of the commission’s support and cooperation to grow the university system.

On the list of the newly licensed private universities are: Rayhaan University, Kebbi state, Muhammad Kamalu-Deen University, Kwara state, Sam Maris University, Ondo state and Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state.

Others are Lux Mundi University, Abia state,Maduka University, Enugu state, Peaceland University, Enugu state, Amadeus University, Abia state, Vision University , Ogun state, Azman University, Kano state, Huda University, Zamfara state, Franco British International University, Kanuna and Canadian University of Nigeria, FCT.

Also on the list are Miva Open University, FCT, Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Ogun state, British Canadian University, Cross River state, Hensard University, Bayelsa state, Phoenix University, Nasarawa State Wigwe University, Rivers state and Hillside University of Science and Technology, Ekiti state.

Also, University of the Niger, Anambra state Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano state, Venite University, Ekiti state, Shanahan University, Anambra state, the Duke Medical University, Cross River state, Mercy Medical University, Odun state,Cosmopolitan University, FCT, Iconic Open University, Sokoto state, West Midland Open University, Oyo State and Amaj University, FCT are in the list

In the list are also Prime University, FCT, El-Amin University, Niger state, College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna state, Jewel University, Gombe, Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Lagos State, Al-Muhibbah Open University, FCT and Al-Bayan University, Kogi state. (NAN)