The federal government has approved the establishment of nine new private universities across Nigeria, Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, announced on Wednesday.
The decision was disclosed while briefing State House journalists following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
Alausa revealed that the nine approvals were granted from a total of 79 active requests submitted by prospective university promoters.
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The newly approved institutions are: Tazkiyah University in Kaduna, Leadership University in Abuja, Jimoh Babalola University in Ilorin, Bridget University in Mbaise, Okirika-Nweke in Imo State, Greenland University in Jalingo, Taraba State, JEFAP University in Suleja, Niger State, Azione Verde University in Amaigbo, Imo State, Unique Open University in Ojo, Lagos State, and American Open University in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In addition to the new private universities, the federal government also announced a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions.
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Alausa explained that the moratorium was prompted by poor patronage of some previously approved federal institutions.
“We are doing this to further halt decays in tertiary institutions which may in future affect the quality of education and consequently cause unemployment of graduates from some of these institutions,” Alausa stated, emphasising the need to safeguard educational standards in the country.
