The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced plans to establish additional universities in the country in order to enhance access to tertiary education.
The commission observed that despite nearly two million candidates applying for university admission, only a fraction, ranging between 500,000 and 700,000 students, are successfully admitted.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Chris Maiyaki, the acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, announced that two additional universities would receive approval in the forthcoming week. This development will elevate the total number of universities in the country to 272.
His words: “We have no choice but to, as a matter of deliberate policy, undertake the massification of universities.
“You need to see the anguish and frustration on the faces of families who are desperate to make sure that their children attend university education every admission session. It is very tough and challenging for university leaders and NUC and so we have no choice but to continue to approve the universities.
“The approval for two more varsities to bring the number of universities in the country to 272 has been concluded and will be announced next week.”
He further affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding university access by authorizing the establishment of additional universities to address the demand for quality education.
Maiyaki highlighted that nations such as Brazil and Indonesia, despite having smaller populations compared to Nigeria, boast over 1,000 universities. He emphasized ongoing initiatives aimed at revitalizing the university system through transnational education, including allowing foreign universities to establish operations within the country.