In a recent statement, the Nigerian government has firmly rejected claims that it intends to sell federal universities to private investors. Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, addressed these concerns, explaining that the government’s actual plan is to open up universities for global competitiveness through transnational education policies.
The controversy arose when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suggested that the federal government was planning to hand over federal universities to investors through public-private partnerships. Prof. Mamman strongly denied this claim, calling it “an absolute lie and completely false.”
Explaining the government’s position, Prof. Mamman stated that the new policy aims to attract international investment in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. “What this government has done is to open up the tertiary education level, particularly the universities, for global competitiveness,” he said. The minister emphasized that this approach is not about selling off institutions but rather about creating opportunities for growth and improvement.
The government’s view on private sector involvement in education was also clarified. Prof. Mamman pointed out that the private sector already plays a significant role in Nigerian higher education, with more private universities in the country than public ones combined. This new policy, he explained, is designed to build on this trend and further enhance the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
In related news, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his commitment to granting independence to Nigerian universities. The President believes that this move will foster excellence and enable these institutions to compete on a global scale. Eng. Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, revealed that the administration is working towards introducing a policy that will grant full autonomy to universities. This aligns with the government’s broader vision of repositioning tertiary institutions in Nigeria to meet international standards.
These developments come at a crucial time for Nigerian education, as the country seeks to improve its academic standards and attract more international students and partnerships. The government’s focus on transnational education and university independence represents a significant shift in policy, aimed at modernizing and globalizing Nigeria’s higher education sector.
