The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of 12 new private universities in the country. The approval brings the number of private universities in Nigeria to 111 as at date, while the total number in Nigeria rose to 216.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed confirmed the approval while addressing journalists after the weekly FEC meeting last Wednesday.
Mr. Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Federal Ministry of Education, said the Council approved the granting of licences to the proposed institutions, which will be under the guidance of already existing universities.
The proposed private universities are:
1. PEN Resource University, Gombe (under the supervision of Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology, Yola)
2. Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno (under the supervision of University of Maiduguri)
3. Margaret Lawrence University, Calilee, Delta state (under the supervision of Nnamdi Azikiwe University)
4. Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano (under Bayero University Kano)
5. Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta state (under the supervision of University of Benin)
6. Baba Ahmed University, Kano (to be supervised by Bayero University Kano)
7. Saisa University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto (under the supervision of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto)
8. Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia state (under the supervision of University of Port Harcourt)
9. Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra state (under the supervision of Nnamdi Azikiwe University)
10. Newgate University, Minna, Niger state (under the supervision of Federal University of Technology, Minna)
11. European University of Nigeria, Duboyi, FCT (under the supervision of University of Abuja)
12. North West University, Sokoto (under the supervision of Usmanu Danfodio University)
According to the Minister, the supervising universities will oversee the proposed tertiary institutions on “recruitment of principal officers, academic, and administrative staff; availability of human and material resources for commencement of academic programmes; implementation of carrying capacity; staff development; moderation of students’ examination and results; general quality assurance activities; moderation of admission; and external examination moderation”.
Meanwhile, the National Universities Commission (NUC) would present the provisional licences for the operations to the new proprietors at a later date.