Adewale Ajayi
The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated the formation of an inter-Ministerial committee through the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate the activities of private and foreign universities operating in Nigeria.
The committee whose membership includes members such as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, among others.
One of the committee’s key terms of reference is to examine private universities established in the last 15 years. The focus is on assessing whether those institutions have the required facilities, appropriate management structures, adequate funding for programs, and the necessary staff (full-time, contract, adjunct, visiting, among other types).
The National Universities Commission (NUC) periodically conducts accreditation exercises, but this additional scrutiny was aimed at ensuring compliance with specific criteria.
According to NUC , Nigeria currently has a total of 147 private universities, as indicated on the NUC website. Analysis reveals that 107 of the private universities were established within the last 15 years. The assignment of the committee is to. highlight the private universities established in the last 15 years that may come under the scrutiny of the Federal Government’s investigative panel.
Some of the Universities are Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Baze University, FCT Abuja,Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State, McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State.
Others are Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State,Southwestern University, Okun Owa, Ogun State, Evangel University, Ebonyi State,Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State,Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State among others.
