…As Stakeholders back proposed Okigwe University
Ignatius Okorocha, Abuja
The Senate and the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) on Monday in Abuja , sought for establishment of more universities in Nigeria .
Clamour for more Universities in the country by the Senate and NUC , came as stakeholders in the education sector , supported proposed Federal University , Okigwe in Imo State during public hearing organised on it by Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
In separate remarks at the public hearing , the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND , Senator Muntari Dandutse , sponsor of the bill seeking for establishment of Federal University Okigwe , Senator Patrick Ndubueze and Executive Secretary of NUC , Mr Chris Maiyaki , called for establishment of more Universities in Nigeria to meet up with demand for education at that level by millions of Nigerians .
Specifically according to the NUC Executive Secretary, available statistics show huge deficit of required number of Universities in Nigeria .
” There are 275 Universities both public and Private for over 2million prospective students seeking for admission on yearly basis.
” The implication is that on yearly basis , out of the 2million prospective students seeking for University admission , only 500, 000 to 700, 000 are absolved , leaving about 1.3million out of the equation with attendant frustrations .
” Nigeria definitely needs more Universities , as the 275 existing ones , are just too inadequate for her population of 200million .
” Indonesia which also has over 200million population like Nigeria , has about 2,000 Universities , not to talk of Russia , Brazil , India with hundreds of thousands of Universities “, he said .
He added that the required expansion of regulatory and capacity building for more Universities , are already being put in place by NUC .
Earlier in his remarks , Senator Dandutse said the proposed Federal University , Okigwe , would help to make University Education , more accessible to Nigerians in Imo State in particular and across the country generally .
Senator Ndubueze in his own remarks , said the proposed University , will give Okigwe town , the required transformation it deserved over the years , being the only Province of the past , that have .
