The Senate and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have called for the establishment of more universities across Nigeria to address the growing demand for tertiary education.
This push comes amid ongoing discussions on the establishment of the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State, which was the focus of a public hearing held on Monday by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
In his remarks at the hearing, Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, highlighted the urgent need for more universities in Nigeria.
He emphasized that expanding the country’s university infrastructure would increase access to higher education, particularly in regions like Okigwe, where the proposed university would help transform the local community and provide much-needed federal presence.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze, the sponsor of the bill for the establishment of the Federal University, Okigwe, underscored the importance of the institution for the development of Okigwe and its people.
He pointed out that the area had been long overlooked, with no significant federal establishment, and expressed optimism that the university would drive economic and social transformation in the region.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, echoed these sentiments, revealing troubling statistics regarding the current shortfall in university admissions.
With over two million prospective students applying for university admission each year, Nigeria’s 275 universities can only accommodate 500,000 to 700,000 students, leaving over 1.3 million applicants without a place.
Maiyaki noted that while Nigeria’s population of 200 million is comparable to Indonesia, which boasts over 2,000 universities, Nigeria’s university infrastructure remains woefully inadequate.
He further assured that the NUC is working to expand its regulatory capacity to accommodate new universities and ensure that quality education is maintained as the sector grows.
The call for more universities is gaining traction as education stakeholders continue to stress the need for accessible and inclusive higher education in Nigeria, with the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, serving as a symbol of the ongoing efforts to address the educational gap in the country.