The Federal Ministry of Education, under the directive of the Federal Government, inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee on Tuesday to scrutinize the activities of private and foreign universities operating in Nigeria.
The committee, tasked with this evaluation, includes key figures such as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, among others.
One of the primary objectives of the committee is to investigate private universities established within the last 15 years. A specific term of reference outlines the need to assess whether these institutions possess the necessary facilities, appropriate management structures, sufficient program funding, and the required staff complement.
As of now, Nigeria has a total of 147 private universities, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC) website. Analysis reveals that 107 of these universities were established within the last 15 years, potentially falling under the scrutiny of the Federal Government’s investigative panel.
The government’s decision to launch this committee stems from a public-private partnership agreement reached in May 2023. The initiative aimed to leverage private-sector investments to enhance facilities and operations on selected routes, with an anticipated revenue generation exceeding N11.54 trillion over a 25-year concession period.
Despite the approval granted eight months ago, contractors have yet to commence work on the designated sites, prompting the minister to express frustration at a recent meeting with directors. He emphasized the need for swift resolution and stated, “This issue has lingered for four years and six months now, but this January, we must conclude everything about the successful companies this month.”
During the committee’s inauguration event at the ministry headquarters in Abuja, Minister David Umahi stressed the importance of transparency, standards, and efficiency in contract negotiations. He directed a review of the scope of work and cost implications, aligning them with current economic dynamics and the new policy direction of the present administration.
In addition to evaluating the establishment of private universities, the minister emphasized the need for enhanced security measures, including the installation of closed-circuit television cameras, solar lighting, and other safety features on the highways.
They are;
1. Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
2. Baze University, FCT Abuja
3. Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State
4. Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State
5. McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State
6. Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
7. Southwestern University, Oku Owa, Ogun State
8. Evangel University, Ebonyi State
9. Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
10. Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State
11. Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State
12. Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State
13. Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State
14. Kings University Ode-Omu, Osun State
15. Michael & Cecilia Ibru University, Owhode, Delta State
16. Mountain Top University, Makogi/Oba, Ogun State
17. Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwalbom State
18. Summit University, Offa, Kwara State
19. Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State
20. Hezekiah University, Umudi, Imo State
21. Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State
22. Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
23. Clifford University, Abia State
24. Coal City University, Enugu state
25. Ojaja University, Ilorin, Kwara state
26. Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State
27. Kola Daisi University., Ibadan, Oyo State
28. Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State
29. Spiritan University, Neochi, Abia State
30. Precious Cornerstone, Ibadan, Oyo State
31. PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
32. Atiba University, Oyo, Oyo State
33. Eko University of Medical Sciences, Ijanikin, Lagos
34. Skyline University, Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
35. Greenfield University, Kasarami-Kaduna, Kaduna State
36. Dominion University, Ibadan, Oyo State
37. Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State
38. Westland University, Iwo, Osun State
39. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State
40. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State
41. Maranatha University, Lekki, Lagos State
42. Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
43.AL-Istigama University, Sumaila, Kano State
44. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State
45. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State
46. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State
47. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State
48. Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State
49. James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos state
50. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
51. Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
52. Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State
53. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State
54. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
55. Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State
56. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
57. Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State
58. ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State
59. Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State
60.Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno
61. Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State
62. Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State
63. Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State
64. Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State
65. Salsa University Of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Sokoto State
66. Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State
67. Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State
68. Newgate University, Minna, Niger State
69. European University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
70. Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
71. Rayhaan University, Kebbi State
72. Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Kwara State
73. Sam Maris University, Supare, Ondo State
74. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
75. Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State
76. Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State
77. Peaceland University, Enugu, Enugu State
78. Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State
79. Vision University, Ikogbo, Ogun State
80. Azman University, Kano, Kano State
81. Huda University, Gusau, Zamfara State
82. Franco British International University, Kaduna, Kaduna State
83. Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
84. Miva Open University, Abuja, FCT
85. Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-ljebu, Ogun State
86. British Canadian University, Obudu, Cross River State
87. Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State
88.Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State
89. Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State
90. Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State
91. University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State
92. Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano Kano State
93. Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State
94 Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra State
95. Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State
96. Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State
97.Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, FCT
98. Iconic Open University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
99. West Midland Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State
100. Amaj University, Abuja, FCT
101. Prime University, Abuja, FCT
102. El-Amin University, Niger State
103. College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Kaduna State
104. Jewel University, Gombe, Gombe State
105. Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa, Lagos State
106. Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, FCT
107. Al-Bayan University, Kogi state
The three committees formed to actualize the Highway Development and Management Initiative include the Scoping and Design Committee, the Financial Committee, and the Due Diligence and Agreement Review Committee.
The minister urged these committees to work diligently, setting a goal to hand over the project sites to serious contractors by the end of March 2024.
