Names, locations of 37 new Nigerian universities granted licences

The federal government has given provisional licences to 37 new private universities, meaning the schools could start operations.

The institutions were approved by the Federal Executive Council on May 15, bringing the number of universities in Nigeria to 264. Private institutions are 147, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC) which gave out the licences on Friday.

– Why this matters

Enrollment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria is put at 2.23 million people, which is just 12% of the total population, according to Abubakar Rasheed, the executive secretary of the NUC. He said the figure shows enrollment is low and inadequate.

While the number of tertiary institutions has risen in the last 10 years, funding of the education section has remained dismal leading to frequent strikes by lecturers and non-academic staff.

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Mr Rasheed said proprietors should not hope to make money from the new schools.

“In establishing universities, you don’t expect to get financial rewards. If your main motive is to make money, then you are in a wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity,” he said.

“The establishment of private universities is in dire need of passion from people, so that passion should drive you.”

The event in Abuja was attended by former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, and Ibrahim Gambari, former chief of staff to former President Buhari.

In the approved list, the federal capital Abuja has the highest number of schools with six, followed by Ogun with three. Fourteen states have none.

– The list:

1. Rayhaan University, Kebbi state
2. Muhammad Kamalu-Deen University, Kwara state
3. Sam Maris University, Ondo state
4. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state
5. Lux Mundi University, Abia state
6. Maduka University, Enugu state
7. Peaceland University, Enugu state
8. Amadeus University, Abia state
9. Vision University, Ogun state
10. Azman University, Kano state
11. Huda University, Zamfara state
12. Franco British International University, Kaduna
13. Canadian University of Nigeria, FCT.
14. Miva Open University, FCT
15. Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Ogun state
16. British Canadian University, Cross River state
17. Hensard University, Bayelsa state
18. Phoenix University, Nasarawa state
19. Wigwe University, Rivers state
20. Hillside University of Science and Technology, Ekiti state
21. University of the Niger, Anambra state
22. Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano state
23. Venite University, Ekiti state
24. Shanahan University, Anambra state
25. Duke Medical University, Cross River state
26. Mercy Medical University, Osun state
27. Cosmopolitan University, FCT
28. Iconic Open University, Sokoto state
29. West Midland Open University, Oyo State
30. Amaj University, FCT
31. Prime University, FCT
32. El-Amin University, Niger state
33. College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna state
34. Jewel University, Gombe
35. Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Lagos State
36. Al-Muhibbah Open University, FCT
37. Al-Bayan University, Kogi state