By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s Federal Government has approved the establishment of nine new private universities across the nation, a decision announced Wednesday by Education Minister Tunji Alausa following a Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
The newly approved institutions, set to reshape Nigeria’s academic landscape, include Tazkiyah University in Kaduna State, Leadership University in Abuja, Jimoh Babalola University in Kwara State, Bridget University in Mbaise, Imo State, Greenland University in Jigawa State, JEFAP University in Niger State, Azione Verde University in Imo State, Unique Open University in Lagos State, and American Open University in Ogun State.
Alausa revealed that the Tinubu administration inherited a staggering 551 pending applications for new tertiary institutions. To ensure quality and efficiency, the government implemented stricter approval guidelines, whittling the list down to 79 active applications. The nine universities approved Wednesday mark a significant step in clearing this backlog.
“Delays in approvals stemmed from inefficiencies within the National Universities Commission,” Alausa said. “We’ve introduced sweeping reforms to streamline the process, and today’s approvals reflect our commitment to advancing education while maintaining high standards.”
The announcement comes alongside a decision to halt the creation of additional federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, signaling a strategic pivot toward strengthening private-sector involvement in Nigeria’s education system.
