The National Universities Commission (NUC) has offered provisional licenses to the nine newly approved universities by the Federal Executive Council.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who commended the new universities for making the cut, however, warned that substantive certificates would only be offered in the next three years to universities that have performed and grown in line with the guidelines stipulated by the commission.

He warned that any form of malpractices would attract sanctions, which includes the withdrawal of the licenses of such institutions.

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, also warned the newly licensed institutions, saying the commission would continue to monitor their activities to ensure that the standards as proscribed by the law are strictly adhered to.

•Text courtesy of Channels TV. Photo shows Prof. Okojie.