The Senate and the National Universities Commission have stressed the urgent need for more universities in Nigeria to meet the growing demand for tertiary education.
This call was made during a public hearing held on Monday in Abuja by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, where stakeholders voiced their support for the proposed establishment of the Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State.
At the hearing, Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund; Senator Patrick Ndubueze, sponsor of the Federal University Okigwe Bill; and Mr. Chris Maiyaki, Executive Secretary of the NUC, all emphasized the critical need for more universities in the country.
Maiyaki highlighted the severe shortage of higher education institutions in Nigeria, stating, “There are 275 universities, both public and private, available for over two million prospective students seeking admission annually. The implication is that on a yearly basis, only 500,000 to 700,000 students are admitted, leaving about 1.3 million frustrated and unable to pursue university education.”
He further compared Nigeria’s situation with other countries, saying, “Nigeria, with a population of 200 million, has only 275 universities. In contrast, Indonesia, which has a similar population, boasts about 2,000 universities, while countries like Russia, Brazil, and India have hundreds of thousands of higher institutions.”
To address this gap, Maiyaki assured the stakeholders that the NUC was working on strengthening regulatory frameworks and improving capacity building to facilitate the establishment of more universities.
Senator Dandutse also highlighted the positive impact the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, could have. He emphasized that it would “significantly improve access to university education for Nigerians, particularly those in Imo State, while contributing to national educational development.”
Similarly, Senator Ndubueze stressed the transformative impact the new institution could have on Okigwe.
He noted that the town had long been without federal presence, saying, “Okigwe remains the only province from the past era without federal recognition or a state capital status.”
