The Federal Government has approved the establishment of nine new private universities across the country, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa announced on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
The newly approved institutions include Tazkiyah University in Kaduna State, Leadership University in Abuja, Unique Open University in Lagos State, and American Open University in Ogun State.
Other approved universities are Jimoh Babalola University in Kwara State, Bridget University in Mbaise, Imo State, Greenland University in Jigawa State, JEFAP University in Niger State, and Azione Verde University in Imo State.
According to the Minister, the Tinubu administration inherited 551 pending applications for the establishment of tertiary institutions, which were subjected to stricter approval guidelines. The list was subsequently reduced to 79 active applications, out of which the nine universities received approval on Wednesday.
"Due to inefficiencies within the NUC, approvals were delayed. We have since introduced reforms to streamline these processes, and today's approvals are a result of clearing this backlog," Alausa explained.
The approval comes at a time when the government has announced a halt to the establishment of more federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, signaling a shift in focus toward improving existing institutions while allowing private sector participation in tertiary education.
This development is expected to increase educational opportunities for Nigerian students and potentially reduce the pressure on existing institutions, many of which are struggling with overcrowding and limited resources.
The Minister did not provide details on when these newly approved universities would begin operations or their specific academic focus areas, but the approval represents a significant step in expanding Nigeria's higher education landscape.
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