FG presents provisional licences to 20 new varsities

Twenty newly established private universities by the Federal Executive Council on Thursday received their provisional licences from the National Universities Commission.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, handed over the licences to the universities in Abuja.

Represented by Emeka Nwajiuba, minister of state for education, Adamu urged the operators to abide by the laid down standards for establishing the institutions.

Adamu said the approval of the universities was a testimony to the continued partnership of the Federal Government with the private sector.

He said there was an urgent need to close the educational gap with the “gross inadequacy” of access to university admission.

He said with the additional 20 universities, Nigeria could boast of 99 private universities.

The minister said there was a need for establishment of more universities to cater for the challenge of admission into universities.

He advised proprietors of the universities to sustain funding to ensure improved infrastructure and equipment for teaching.