The Federal Ministry of Education has announced a one-year suspension on the establishment of new private universities in Nigeria. Education Minister Maruf Olatunji Alausa stated that the moratorium, which could be extended if necessary, aims to enhance the quality and sustainability of private institutions.
Nigeria currently has 129 federal and state universities and 149 private universities. Despite private universities constituting over half of the total institutions, they account for less than 10% of student admissions. Alausa emphasized the need to regulate the sector to maintain educational standards.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has been directed to review pending applications and update guidelines to ensure only institutions with the required financial and academic capacity are approved.
