The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has granted operating license to 37 new private universities in Nigeria including an online institution operated by a female chancellor from Bauchi state.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, revealed this on Monday, at the state house, Abuja, while briefing journalists after FEC meeting that was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The approval brings the total number of universities approved for establishment under the Buhari-led government to 72.
They include, 14 Federal Universities, 21 State Universities and 37 Private Universities from 2015 till date.
Although, Adamu did not give out the names of the successful institutions, he said one of them was an online university operated by a female chancellor from Bauchi.
In his words “One of the universities is an online university by a woman from Bauchi State and this is significant in the sense that we always want to have our women coming forward in education.
“As far as I’m concerned, we need more universities. We are still under-university. And if there are universities that are underfunded, they should be funded. It shouldn’t affect new universities that are being established.
“In any case, this one is by the private sector. And I assure you that the regulatory process is such that they will not be established unless they are fully ready for it.”
He added that the licences were granted based on the guarantees given by the institutions on funding and projections.
