The Senate and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have called for the establishment of more universities in Nigeria to address the growing demand for tertiary education in the country.
This call was made on Monday during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, where stakeholders deliberated on the proposed Federal University, Okigwe, in Imo State.
Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee, and Senator Patrick Ndubueze, sponsor of the Federal University Okigwe Bill, joined the NUC Executive Secretary, Mr Chris Maiyaki, in highlighting Nigeria’s educational infrastructure challenges.
Maiyaki revealed that Nigeria’s 275 universities – public and private – are insufficient to meet the annual demand of over two million prospective students, with only 500,000 to 700,000 gaining admission yearly.
“Nigeria, with a population of 200 million, has only 275 universities,” he said.
“In comparison, Indonesia, with a similar population, has about 2,000 universities, while countries like Russia, Brazil, and India boast hundreds of thousands of higher institutions.”
The NUC assured stakeholders that efforts were underway to expand regulatory frameworks and support the establishment of more universities.
Senator Dandutse stressed the potential impact of the Federal University, Okigwe, in improving access to education, particularly in Imo State.
“This institution will address the educational needs of Nigerians while fostering national development,” he said.
Senator Ndubueze also underscored the transformative potential of the project for Okigwe, noting the town’s lack of federal presence.
“Okigwe remains one of the few provinces without significant federal recognition,” he remarked, urging lawmakers to prioritise the bill’s passage.
