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The Federal Government has presented operational licenses to 11 newly approved private universities to expand access to quality tertiary education.
Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, made the presentation of the licences to the new private universities in Abuja on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Alausa said it was sequel to the approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC),
The newly licenced universities are New City University, Aiyetoro, Ogun State; Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State; and Kevin Ezeh University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
Others include Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun State; and Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University, Ganmo in Kwara State.
Also in the list are Monarch University, Iyesi Ota, Ogun State; Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin, Edo State; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautic and Management, Lagos State; and Eranova University, Kuje, FCT.
Alausa said the approval was in line with the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative designed to restore the glory of Nigeria’s educational system.
“This ceremony is not only a celebration of your achievements, but also a renewed call to action in building a future-ready and globally competitive Nigerian university system,” he said.
The minister highlighted the urgency of steering Nigeria’s higher education toward priority fields such as STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences.
Alausa stressed that “Nigeria has more than enough social science graduates. What we need now are problem-solvers graduates with life skills who can drive industries, build infrastructure, and improve lives.
“We must acknowledge an uncomfortable truth that, while we now have 159 licensed private universities, too many are failing to meet the quality standards Nigeria demands.”
He also urged private universities to collaborate with one another and form international affiliations, noting Nigeria’s potential as a hub for global education partnerships.
The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, highlighted the growing importance of private universities as complementary partners to public institutions, particularly in catering to Nigeria’s youthful population.
Ribadu said since the liberalisation of university education in 1999, private universities had significantly expanded the nation’s academic landscape.
