- The Senate and the National Universities Commission (NUC) are pushing for the establishment of more universities in Nigeria.
- This call is aimed at addressing the growing demand for tertiary education in the country.
- According to the NUC, there are currently 275 universities in Nigeria, but only 500,000 to 700,000 students gain admission each year, leaving about 1.3 million students without access to tertiary education.
The Senate and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have emphasized the need for more universities in Nigeria to address the growing demand for tertiary education. This call was reiterated during a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, where stakeholders in the education sector voiced their support for the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State.
Chris Maiyaki, Executive Secretary of the NUC, highlighted the current deficit in university capacity, noting that there are 275 universities in Nigeria, but only 500,000 to 700,000 students gain admission each year. This leaves approximately 1.3 million students without access to tertiary education, creating immense frustration. Maiyaki also pointed out that the existing number of universities is grossly inadequate for Nigeria’s population of 200 million, comparing the country’s situation to nations like Indonesia, which has a similar population but boasts approximately 2,000 universities.
