Chris Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, says the commission will continue to encourage the establishment of more universities notwithstanding the criticism.
Mr Maiyaki made the disclosure on Friday in his lecture at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo.
The NUC chief said this was necessary considering the country’s population and its low literacy level.
He, however, said that what the commission would not do was to compromise the quality of university education in the country.
According to him, available statistics and studies shows that Nigeria needs more universities to harness and unlock its potential.
“The commission, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, as a matter of deliberate policy, will encourage expansion of our universities and approve more,” he said.
Maiyaki, therefore, called on Nigerian universities to prioritise and improve on the capacity building of staff, as recent reports indicated a fallout in this aspect.
He also decried the state of facilities in Nigerian universities, calling for good governance and management culture in the administration of university’s resources.
To reposition the Nigeria’s university system, the NUC chief advocated restoration of normalcy to academic calendar by jettisoning unwarranted incessant industrial actions.
“There is also a need for the review of our curriculum, application of ICT and massive expansion of facilities.
“Partnership and Internationalisation are necessary too to join the global landscape of university,” he said.
Earlier, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Vice-Chancelleor of the university, said 55 out of the 855 graduates, bagged first class honours in their various disciplines.
Ezemonye, who recounted the success of the university in the last one year, said all the courses by the institution were fully accredited by the NUC and the relevant regulatory councils.
The vice-chancellor noted that the institution was digitalised to enhance academic and administrative functions.
In the last one year, Ezemonye said the school had secured increase in admission quota for various professional courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences as well as Nursing Sciences.
NAN
