The Nigerian Senate and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have emphasized the need for more universities to address the growing demand for higher education in the country.
This call was made during a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to discuss the proposed establishment of the Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State.
Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse; the bill sponsor, Senator Patrick Ndubueze; and the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, all highlighted the urgent need to expand Nigeria’s tertiary education capacity.
According to Mr. Maiyaki, Nigeria faces a significant deficit in the number of universities required to cater to its growing population. He noted that the country currently has 275 universities—public and private—serving over 2 million prospective students annually.
“Out of the 2 million students seeking university admission each year, only about 500,000 to 700,000 are admitted, leaving 1.3 million without opportunities. For a population of over 200 million, 275 universities are grossly inadequate,” Maiyaki stated.
He further compared Nigeria’s situation to that of Indonesia, which also has a population of over 200 million but boasts around 2,000 universities. Other countries such as Russia, Brazil, and India also far exceed Nigeria in university numbers. Maiyaki assured stakeholders that the NUC is already working to expand regulatory frameworks and build capacity to accommodate new institutions.
Senator Dandutse stressed that establishing the Federal University, Okigwe, would improve access to education, particularly for Nigerians in Imo State and beyond. Similarly, Senator Ndubueze highlighted the transformative potential of the proposed university, noting that Okigwe remains one of the few regions historically lacking significant federal presence or development.
The proposed university aims to address this imbalance while contributing to the overall goal of making tertiary education more accessible to Nigerians.
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