The Senate and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have reiterated the urgent need to establish more universities in Nigeria to meet the growing demand for tertiary education. This was emphasized during a public hearing in Abuja on Monday, organized by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
The hearing focused on the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State, and saw widespread support from stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund; Senator Patrick Ndubueze, sponsor of the Federal University Okigwe Bill; and the NUC’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, highlighted the critical shortfall in Nigeria’s higher education infrastructure.
Maiyaki noted that Nigeria’s 275 universities—comprising public and private institutions—are inadequate to accommodate over two million prospective students annually.
“Currently, only 500,000 to 700,000 students gain admission each year, leaving about 1.3 million without access to university education,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with other nations, Maiyaki added, “Nigeria, with a population of 200 million, has only 275 universities. Meanwhile, Indonesia, with a similar population, has approximately 2,000 universities. Countries like Russia, Brazil, and India have hundreds of thousands of higher institutions.”
To address this disparity, Maiyaki assured that the NUC is working to expand regulatory frameworks and enhance capacity to support the establishment of more universities.
Senator Dandutse emphasized that the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, would not only improve access to higher education in Imo State but also significantly contribute to Nigeria’s overall educational development.
Similarly, Senator Ndubueze underscored the transformative impact the institution would have on Okigwe, a region he said has long lacked federal presence.
“Okigwe remains the only province from the past era without federal recognition or state capital status,” Ndubueze stated, advocating for the university as a necessary step toward correcting historical imbalances.
The call for more universities is seen as a crucial step toward addressing Nigeria’s educational challenges and ensuring that more young people have access to quality tertiary education.
