The Federal Government, on Tuesday in Abuja, issued licence to PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt as the first private Medical University, dedicated solely for training of medical students in Nigeria and West African region, and five others.
Speaking at the presentation of the provisional licences to the new institutions at the National Universities Commission headquarters in Abuja, Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu, said the approval has now taken the number of private universities in the country from previous 68 to 74 and 160 universities in the country.
Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Architect Sunny Echono, said the Federal Government is ready and willing to discuss with proprietors on issues confronting the universities in the country.
“We congratulates proprietors of the universities who have persevere to the enduring process. They were selected among other applicants therefore,
it is expected that you will work hard to ensure the highest standards envisage through the adoption of best practices in order to achieve academic excellence in your programmes,” he said.
A former head of state, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd), who is also the Chairman, board of trustees, PAMO University commended NUC for its efforts in ensuring efficacy in the University system and said there is need for establishment of more private universities in the country. According to him, for rapid development to reign in the country, peace is central.
The Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Adamu Rasheed, commended proprietors of the universities and urged Nigerian citizens not to look beyond the environment in which the universities are opened hence they are all international.
He commended especially the PAMO Educational foundation for meeting up the criteria to be licensed after undergoing a period of just eleven months, the shortest by any university in the country so far.
He said the commission is aware of the challenges facing universities especially the private ones including problem of staffs where there are many students and few lecture to handle. According to him, the number of universities are inadequate to the demands of education in the country.
The names of the other new universities are Admiralty University, Delta State, Spiritan University, Nneochi, Delta State, Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, PAMO University of Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, ATIBA University, Oyo, Oyo State, Leo University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ijaniki, Lagos State.
Augustine Okezie, Abuja
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