11 Private Universities Declared Substandard By NUC

The National Universities Commission, NUC, on Thursday denied 11
private universities operating in Nigeria full operational licenses
for their inability to meet set standards three years after they were
issued provisional licenses.



Speaking at the presentation of the full operational licenses to nine
other private universities, the NUC Executive Secretary, Julius
Okojie, said the 11 affected private universities were given two years
to get their full operational licenses, but failed to get in in three.

The affected universities are Wesley University of Science and
Technology, Landmark University, Rhema University, Samuel Adegboyega
University, Paul University, Oduduwa University, Tansian University,
Baze University, Obong University, Achievers University and Wellspring
University.

Mr. Okojie, who did not mention any punitive measure for the affected
universities, explained that the provisional license was intended to
create room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the
first three years of operation of a new private university.

He noted that the universities were also to be monitored by NUC to
ensure that they comply with the original purpose of establishment.

"That was also part of NUC's initiative for early warning signals to
detect compromises in quality for the application of corrective and
remedial measures to redress such situations," he said.

He added that the commission monitors the activities of universities
in the country, and inspects and penalises them through the
accreditation process.

"If we don't monitor them now they will have problems. So they will
slow down on programmes, (we) look at their staff strength and look at
their programmes," he said.

Also speaking, the Vice chancellor of Caleb University, Ayodeji
Olukoju, said private universities are the way forward for tertiary
education in the country.

He said since interim licenses were given, the institutions had
focused on academic programme development, system development and
infrastructural development.

The nine universities that received full operational licenses are
Veritas University, Caleb University, Geofery Okoye University,
Fountain University, Adeleke University, Western Delta University, Afe
Babalola University, Salem University and Nigerian Turkish Nile
University.

-Premiumtimes