This brings the number
of private universities in the country to 69 and the total number of
universities (public and private) to 151.
Addressing State House
correspondents, Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony
Anwuka, said the FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu
Buhari, approved the universities on the recommendation of the National
Universities Commission (NUC) on their compliance with the very
strict conditions necessary for approval.
According to him, the
approval was to ensure that the teeming population of Nigerian students
seeking admission into universities are given the opportunity to do so.
The approved universities are
1.) Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos (promoted by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry,to be mentored by University of Lagos).2.) Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State (promoted by The Clitter House Nigeria Limited, to be mentored by University of Calabar).3.) Clifford University, Owerrinta, Abia State (promoted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, to be mentored by University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia).4.) Coal City University, Enugu (promoted by African Thinkers Community of Inquiry College of Education, Enugu – to be mentored by University of Nigeria, Nsukka).5.) Crown-Hill University, Eiyenkorin, Kwara (promoted by Modern Morgy and Sons Limited, to be mentored by a University of Ilorin).6.) Dominican University, Ibadan (promoted by the Order of Preachers, Nigerian Dominican Community).7.) Kola Daisi University, Ibadan (promoted by Kola Daisi Foundation, to be mentored by University of Ibadan).8.) Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State (promoted by the Good Idea Education Foundation, to be mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa).
Explaining why mentors were appointed for the new universities,
Anwuka said mentoring was part of the requirement as contained in the
Education Act Cap E3 Law of Federal Republic of Education 2004
implemented by the NUC and the Federal Ministry of Education.
“It
is the part of the requirements. An older university within the
university zone where each of the new universities has been approved is
given the mandate to oversee and mentor the new universities in terms of
academic and administrative culture for three years within which period
they must have learnt the art of university governance and academic
details.”
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, throwing
more light on the issue of mentoring, said, “the law is very specific on
exactly what is required. I think the first is that each of the
mentoring universities would, among other issues, ensure that the
correct appointment of the governing council is made; that they recruit
appropriate principal officers both academic and administrative; that
there would be availability of human and material resources for the
commencement of any academic performance.
“They also have the responsibility to ensure implementation of
carrying capacity. They must also assist in staff development. They must
also modulate students’ examination; must guarantee quality assurances
of the university. They also have responsibility to moderate admission
and also moderate external examination even the older universities were
also mentored by universities abroad.
“But we believe that by today, we have reached the situation whereby our own universities are capable of mentoring the universities,” Mohammed said.
