11 Nigerian Universities are substandard - NUC

The National Universities Commission, NUC, on Thursday denied 11
private universities operating in Nigeria full operational licenses for their
inability to meet set standards three years after they were issued
provisional licenses.
Speaking at the presentation of the full operational licenses to nine other
private universities, the NUC Executive Secretary, Julius Okojie, said the
11 affected private universities were given two years to get their full
operational licenses, but failed to get in in three.
The affected universities are Wesley University of Science and
Technology, Landmark University, Rhema University, Samuel
Adegboyega University, Paul University, Oduduwa University, Tansian
University, Baze University, Obong University, Achievers University and
Wellspring University.
Mr. Okojie, who did not mention any punitive measure for the affected
universities, explained that the provisional license was intended to create
room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three
years of operation of a new private university.
He noted that the universities were also to be monitored by NUC to
ensure that they comply with the original purpose of establishment.
“That was also part of NUC’s initiative for early warning signals to
detect compromises in quality for the application of corrective and
remedial measures to redress such situations,” he said.
He added that the commission monitors the activities of universities in the
country, and inspects and penalises them through the accreditation
process.
“If we don’t monitor them now they will have problems. So they will
slow down on programmes, (we) look at their staff strength and look at
their programmes,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice chancellor of Caleb University, Ayodeji
Olukoju, said private universities are the way forward for tertiary
education in the country.
He said since interim licenses were given, the institutions had focused on
academic programme development, system development and infrastructural
development.
The nine universities that received full operational licenses are Veritas
University, Caleb University, Geofery Okoye University, Fountain
University, Adeleke University, Western Delta University, Afe Babalola
University, Salem University and Nigerian Turkish Nile University.