Number of universities in Nigeria insufficient – NUC

The Nigerian University Commission (NUC) has asked the federal government to establish more universities to reduce the number of people awaiting admission into higher institutions.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, made the request on Monday during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund. on the proposed Federal University, Okigwe in Imo State.

Mr Maiyaki empathised that the number of public and private universities in the country is not enough to accommodate all admission seekers on a yearly basis.

The NUC acting secretary said there are 275 universities in the country but that the number of people seeking admission into the varsities increases yearly.

He noted that about two million people seek admission into universities in the country every year.

Mr Maiyaki said of the two million admission seekers, only 500,000 or 700,000 of them are admitted.

“There are 275 universities both public and private for over two million prospective students seeking for admission on yearly basis.

“The implication is that on a yearly basis, out of the two million prospective students seeking for university admission, only 500, 000 to 700, 000 are absolved leaving about 1.3 million out of the equation with attendant frustrations,” he said.

He cited examples of other countries with higher populations, like Nigeria, which had more universities.