In a move to improve the quality of private universities, the National Universities Commission (NUC)based reviewed the application for new private universities.
Checks by Nigerian NewsDirect revealed that many private individuals who are in possession of licenses are either yet to take off or operating below par offering low quality education and compromised admission standards.
The latest move by the NUC is aimed at discouraging those who don’t align with the Commission’s standards in delivering quality education to Nigerians from obtaining licenses.
The Commission in a memo issued by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, on Monday increased the fee to N25 million, up from the previous N5 million.
According to the memo, the move is part of ongoing efforts to reposition private universities in Nigeria, ensuring they better meet the needs of the populace and to improve coordination within the private university sector.
In the statement, the NUC also highlighted its plan to review the guidelines for establishing private universities, in order to ensure these institutions are better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century.
The memo further detailed the suspension of processing for inactive applications, including those of private open universities that have not made progress in over two years.
It also addressed the fees for applications, stating that the cost for purchasing application forms for establishing a private university has been increased from N1 million to N5 million. Additionally, the processing fee has now been raised to N25 million.
The NUC emphasised that applicants who have already purchased application forms are expected to make the necessary payments within 30 working days, or risk forfeiting their pending applications.
The memo read, “This is to ensure that newly established private universities are positioned to meet the challenges of the 21 Century. Pursuant to the above and in line with the directive of the Honourable Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission hereby informs Promoters of proposed Private Universities in particular and the general public as follows:
“The Commission hereby suspends further processing of; All inactive applications including those of private open universities (i.e. those that have not made progress on their applications or made submissions to the Commission for upwards of two years), and applications at the stage of submission of Letters of Intent only.
“The Fee for purchase of Application Forms for the Establishment of a Private University is hereby reviewed from One Million (N1,000,000.00) Naira to (Five Million (N5,000,000.00) Naira; the Processing Fee for Application for the Establishment of a Private University is hereby reviewed from Five Million (N5,000,000.00) Naira to Twenty-Five Million (N25,000,000.00) Naira.
“The NUC will convey the reviewed Processing Fee of Twenty-Five Million (¥25,000,000.00) Naira to applicants that have purchased Application Forms only. They are also expected to effect payments within a period of thirty (30) working days or risk forfeiture of their pending applications.”
