FG approves 8 new universities

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday met and approved eight new private universities. This brings the number of private varsities in Nigeria to 69.

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Onwuka told State House correspondents that the approval was based on recommendation of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The minister noted that each of the universities was given a three-year provisional licence and would be mentored by an older university.

The newly approved universities are: Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos, owned by Deeper Christian Life Ministry, to be mentored by the University of Lagos; Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River, owned by The Glitter House Nigeria Limited, to be mentored by the University of Calabar; Clifford University, Owerrinta, Abia, owned by Seventh Day Adventist Church, to be mentored by the University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia and Coal City University, Enugu, owned by African Thinkers Community of Inquiry College of Education, Enugu, to be mentored by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Others are; Crown-Hill University, Eiyenkorin, Kwara, owned by Modern Morgy and Sons Limited, to be mentored by the University of Ilorin; Dominican University, Ibadan, owned by Order of Preachers, Nigerian Dominican Community, to be mentored by the University of Ibadan; Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, owned by Kola Daisi Foundation, to be mentored by the University of Ibadan and Legacy University, Okija, Anambra, owned by The Good Idea Education Foundation, to be mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa.
The minister said the universities were approved to give opportunity to the admission-seekers in the country.

He said the monitoring of the new universities would be implemented by the federal ministry of education and the NUC as required by the 2004 Education Act.