NUC licenses to 37 new universities

The National University Commission (NUC) has given provisional licences to 37 newly established private universities approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 15.

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, at the presentation of the provisional licences to the universities, said the number of private universities now stood at 147 out of a total of 264 universities in the country.

Rasheed charged the proprietors of the newly established universities to ensure that the motive for creating the universities was not for money but for a higher and noble goal.

”In establishing universities, you don’t expect to get financial rewards. If your main motive is to make money, then you are in the wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity.

”The establishment of private universities is in dire need of passion from people so that passion should drive you

“The Nigerian statistics of high demand for tertiary education is grossly inadequate. Statistics put the number of enrollment in tertiary institutions at 2.23 million, which is about 12 percent of the total population of 220 million,” he said.

While charging the proprietors of quality assurance in the universities, the NUC boss assured of the Commission’s support and cooperation to grow the university system.