16th February, 2024
By Paul Dada
The acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki, says there are plans to bring the total number of universities in the country to 272.
Maiyaki said this during an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that the NUC would not stop approving new universities as it is interested in bridging the admissions gap in the country. He said while about two million candidates seek admission into universities every year, the total available quota for admission ranges between 500,000 and 700,000.
“We have no choice but to as a matter of deliberate policy undertake the massification of universities”.
Adding, he said, “You need to see the anguish and the frustration on the faces of families who are desperate to make sure that their children attend university education every admission session. It is very tough and challenging for university leaders and NUC and so we have no choice but to continue to approve the universities.
“The approval for two more varsities to bring the number of universities in the country to 272 has been concluded and will be announced next week.”