The acting executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Maiyaki, has raised concerns over the limited capacity of private universities in Nigeria. Despite having 149 private universities across the country, these institutions are only able to accommodate about 10% of the university student population. This statistic is alarming, given the fact that over two million prospective students seek university admission each year. However, the current university system can only admit between 500,000 and 700,000 candidates annually, leaving a significant gap in access to higher education.
During a recent meeting with a delegation from the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) of China, which is affiliated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Maiyaki emphasized the need to address this gap. The IIOE aims to enhance teachers’ competencies in higher education institutions in developing countries and improve access to quality education. Maiyaki informed the delegation that their visit coincided with NUC’s efforts to expand access to university education through various strategic initiatives.
Nigeria currently has 274 universities, including 62 federal, 63 state, and 149 private universities. However, despite this impressive number, the existing institutions are unable to meet the rising demand for tertiary education. Maiyaki stressed the importance of establishing more universities to accommodate the growing number of students seeking higher education. He also pointed out that the development of private universities requires time to mature and expand their capacity to contribute effectively to the educational landscape.
Maiyaki highlighted the NUC’s recent achievement: the launch of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). This initiative, which started in 2018 and was officially launched in 2023, is a joint effort between universities and industry leaders to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria. The CCMAS aims to significantly impact the future of education in the country.
Additionally, Maiyaki outlined the key roles of the NUC in the Nigerian university system, including setting minimum academic standards, conducting accreditation of academic programs, verifying resources for new programs, inspecting and monitoring universities, formulating policies, and processing licenses for establishing private universities. He also informed the Chinese delegation about the recent introduction of guidelines on Transnational Education (TNE), which include six competitive models aimed at enhancing the quality of education in Nigeria.
Maiyaki highlighted a recent achievement of the NUC: the launch of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). This initiative, which began in 2018 and was officially launched in 2023, involves collaboration between universities and industry leaders to improve education quality in Nigeria. The CCMAS is set to greatly influence the future of the country’s education system.
Dr Glory Chris Ilogho
No doubt Chris Maiyaki has been making great strides at the NUC as Executive Secretary. I wish he continues in this trajectory for more deliverables in the area of quality and capacity building in the Nigerian Higher Education Sub-sector. His interventions have been most laudable and Nigeria Education is the better for it.
Kudos to NUC and more grease to the elbow of the Management.