By Atoyebi Nike
Nine new private universities have been cleared to operate in Nigeria following Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval on Wednesday.
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa announced the decision after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. The newly approved institutions include Tazkiyah University, Kaduna State; Leadership University, Abuja; Jimoh Babalola University, Kwara State; Bridget University, Mbaise, Imo State; Greenland University, Jigawa State; JEFAP University, Niger State; Azione Verde University, Imo State; Unique Open University, Lagos State; and American Open University, Ogun State.
Alausa explained that the current administration inherited 551 pending requests for new tertiary institutions, but under stricter guidelines, the number was reduced to 79 active applications. Of these, nine secured approval this week.
He noted that many of the institutions had been awaiting accreditation for over six years, with promoters investing billions of naira into campus infrastructure. “Due to inefficiencies within the NUC, approvals were delayed. We have since introduced reforms to streamline these processes, and today’s approvals are a result of clearing this backlog,” Alausa said.
The minister also disclosed that a moratorium has been placed on new applications for private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education unless they meet the government’s revised operational standards.
