Two New Universities to be Approved Next Week, Says NUC
This announcement comes amidst concerns from stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, regarding the proliferation of institutions in Nigeria amidst inadequate funding for existing ones. Maiyaki defended the decision, stating that increasing investments in education is crucial for national development.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced plans to establish two new universities in Nigeria, bringing the total number of institutions in the country to 272. The Acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in Abuja.
Maiyaki emphasized the necessity of approving new universities to address the admissions gap in the country, with approximately two million candidates seeking admission annually while the available admission quota ranges between 500,000 and 700,000.
This announcement comes amidst concerns from stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, regarding the proliferation of institutions in Nigeria amidst inadequate funding for existing ones. Maiyaki defended the decision, stating that increasing investments in education is crucial for national development.
He highlighted the challenges faced by families and students due to limited admission opportunities and expressed the NUC's commitment to widening access to quality education by approving more universities.
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Furthermore, Maiyaki addressed the issue of charging tuition fees in dollars, stating that no Nigerian university is allowed to charge fees in dollars. He clarified that while foreign students may be charged in dollars, Nigerian students are not subjected to this policy.
The NUC is also processing applications for the establishment of distance learning centers, aiming to provide quality education through monitored programs. Maiyaki stressed that the commission's efforts are focused on improving the quality and accessibility of education in Nigeria.