Chris Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), has defended the Federal Government’s decision to approve more universities in Nigeria. He argues that the current 272 public and private universities are not enough to meet the growing demand for university education among Nigerian youth.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have criticized the proliferation of universities, pointing out that the Federal Government continues to approve new universities even when existing ones are underfunded. ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, emphasized that the NUC Act needs to be amended to control the excessive establishment of universities in Nigeria.
Osodeke highlighted that the proliferation of universities was one of the issues that led to strikes in 2020 and 2022. ASUU demands the full implementation of the 2020 ASUU-FGN Memorandum of Action, which calls for a review of the NUC Act. During the last legislative session, a joint committee of ASUU and NUC submitted a draft bill to the National Assembly, but it did not progress.
Osodeke criticized the reckless manner in which both Federal and State governments are establishing new universities without adequate funding. He noted that this trend has put a strain on the intervention funds of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which are being diverted to establish new universities against the Fund’s Act. ASUU intends to use all legal means to resist these moves and urges the Tinubu-led administration to stop the proliferation of universities. Instead, they want universities that are well-funded and capable of addressing the challenges facing Nigeria.
However, Maiyaki defended the need for more universities to cater to the increasing number of applicants, especially the youth. He stated that the current 272 universities are inadequate for the growing demand for university education. Comparing Nigeria’s population with countries like India, Brazil, and China, Maiyaki pointed out that only about one percent of Nigerians are enrolled in universities, whereas in these countries, 25 to 30 percent of the population is in university.
Maiyaki added that the NUC is working to improve the quality of education in Nigeria. They have finalized guidelines on Transnational Education (TNE), allowing foreign educational institutions to participate in Nigeria’s university education landscape. The new standards aim to enhance the quality of teaching, learning, and research in Nigerian universities.
The NUC has identified strategic priorities, including curriculum development, quality assurance, research and innovation, infrastructure development, deeper IT penetration, and internationalization. These efforts are designed to ensure better outcomes from the Nigerian University System for national development.
To encourage partnerships with industry and promote blended learning, the NUC has updated the university curricula from the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) to the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). The new curricula, implemented in September 2023, reflect Nigeria’s aspirations to achieve a knowledge economy driven by the 4th Industrial Revolution and 21st-century skills. The CCMAS expands academic disciplines from 14 to 17.
Additionally, the NUC has improved guidelines on Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programs, integrating e-learning with conventional teaching methods to ensure quality delivery and keep pace with global best practices.
