Despite having 149 private universities, Nigeria is struggling to meet the growing demand for higher education. The National Universities Commission (NUC) has revealed that these private institutions only cater to about 10% of the country’s university student population.
The acting executive secretary of the NUC, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, expressed concern about the situation. He stated that annually, over two million students seek university admission, but existing institutions can only accommodate between 500,000 and 700,000.
Maiyaki made these remarks during a visit from the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), a Chinese institution affiliated with UNESCO. The IIOE is focused on improving teacher competency and access to quality higher education in developing countries.
The NUC’s data highlights a significant gap between the demand for university education and the available capacity. With 274 universities in total, including 62 federal, 63 state, and 149 private institutions, Nigeria’s higher education system is struggling to keep up.
Maiyaki emphasized the need to address this issue by establishing more universities across the country. He acknowledged that while private universities play a role, they currently only serve a small portion of the student population.
The NUC has been working to improve the quality of higher education in Nigeria. One of their recent achievements is the launch of the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). This curriculum outlines the minimum academic standards that all universities must meet.
The NUC also plays a crucial role in accrediting academic programs, verifying resources for new programs, inspecting and monitoring universities, formulating policies, and licensing private universities.
The visit from the IIOE highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s educational challenges. The IIOE’s focus on teacher development and quality education aligns with the NUC’s goals.
Both organizations recognize the need to improve the quality of higher education in Nigeria to meet the demands of a growing population and a competitive global economy.
