The Executive Secretary
of the National University Commission, NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, has said that the
number of universities in Nigeria was too small given its population.
Media
report continues:
He
charged individuals and organizations to invest in education by establishing
private universities.
Delivering
the convocation lecture of the Fountain University, Osogbo, Professor Rasheed
explained that Nigeria has just over a hundred universities for a population of
over 180 million people.
During
the convocation, a total of 198 graduands got first degrees while honourary
degrees were conferred on two eminent Nigerians, Sakariyau Babalola and Yusuf
Ali.
Mr.
Babalola who is the Deputy President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council of
Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, was conferred with Doctor of Science while Mr. Ali who
is the Pro Chancellor of Osun State University was conferred with Doctor of
Letters for their respective contributions to educational development in the
country.
In
his lecture, the NUC Executive Secretary insisted that Nigeria needs more
universities if it would be able to compete favourably with other countries
across the globe. He said the number of universities in the country currently
cannot meet the demand for university education by the citizenry.
He
said the future of higher education in the country lies with how the private
universities are managed, saying that the private universities should be able
to fill the gap created by insufficient universities.
He
disclosed that the NUC would soon convoke a summit for private universities in
the country to review their activities, fine-tune their operations and assist
them to be able to attain their goals.
He
said NUC was trying to be flexible with the private universities so as to
enable them survive and sustain their operation. He said this became necessary
considering the challenges facing the private universities in the country.
He
expressed worry that no private university is able to fill its quota in
admission as most of them could only fill 40 per cent of their quotas.
“There
is need to ask questions about why the private universities are unable to fill
their quotas despite that there is admission demand. This is a very serious
issue and NUC and JAMB are worried about this.”
“Therefore,
we shall convoke a summit for private universities early this year to consider
how best the private universities could operate and function maximally to be
able to help the country”.
In
his address, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, AbdulLateef Usman
said the students completed their studies, satisfied all requirements for the
awards in various disciplines and are found worthy in learning and character.
The
VC reiterated the commitment of Fountain University to academic excellence and
assured that the university would not relent in pursuing core objectives in the
area of quality lectures, tutorials, conduct of practical sessions and research
as well as entrepreneurial studies.
Dignitaries at the occasion
include Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; the Executive Secretary of the
Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Ish’aq Oloyede; the Timi of Ede,
Munirudeen Adesola; and the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Musa Animasaun among others.
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