Future of higher education in Nigeria lies on private varsities – NUC secretary
The Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, has said that the future of higher education in Nigeria depends on how Fountain University and other private varsities in the country are managed.
He said this while delivering the convocation lecture of Fountain University in Osogbo, Osun State capital.
During the convocation, a total of 198 graduands got first degrees with honourary degrees conferred on two eminent Nigerians like Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola and Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN).
While Babalola, who is the Deputy President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) was conferred with Doctor of Science, Ali who is the Pro Chancellor of Osun State University was conferred with Doctor of Letters.
They were both awarded for their respective
contributions to educational development in the country.
According to the NUC executive secretary, the number of universities in the country are too small to carter for the number of candidates seeking admission.
He called on individuals and organizations to invest in education by establishing private universities.
He stated that the country currently has over a hundred universities to carter for a population of over one hundred and eighty million people.
He also said that the presence of private universities in th country would aid favourable competition among Nigeria and other countries across the globe.
He expressed concern over the inability of many private universities to fill their admission quota.
He said most of the private universities could only fill 40 per cent of their quotas.
While saying that “the future of higher education in the country lies with how the private universities are managed”, the NUC added, “There is need to ask questions about why the private universities are unable to fill their quotas despite that there is
admission demand. This is a very serious issue and NUC and JAMB are worried about this.”
This as he said that a summit to review how private universities could cover-up for the over population experienced by federal universities would hold this year.
He disclosed that the summit expected to be conveyed by the NUC would also fine-tune the activities and operations of private universities in a bid to assist them to be able to attain their goals.
He assured the private universities of the NUC’s support, saying that the commission was ready to assist them to survive and sustain their operation.
“We shall convoke a summit for private universities early this year to consider how best the private universities could operate and function maximally to be able to help the country,” he said.
The acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor AbdulLateef Usman, reiterated the commitment of Fountain University to academic
excellence.
He assured that the university would not relent in
pursuing core objectives in the area of quality lectures, tutorials, conduct of practical sessions and research as well as entrepreneurial studies.
pursuing core objectives in the area of quality lectures, tutorials, conduct of practical sessions and research as well as entrepreneurial studies.
He said that “the graduands completed their studies, satisfied all requirements for the awards in various disciplines and are found worthy in learning and character”.
Among the dignitaries at the occasion include Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; the Executive Secretary of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) Professor Ishaq Oloyede; the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola and the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Animasaun among others.
