Posted by From Josephine Lohor in Abuja on
The Bells University owned by President Olusegun Obasanjo is one of seven new private universities approved by the Federal Executive Council yesterday. With the approval the total number of licensed private universities in the country is now 23.
The Bells University owned by President Olusegun Obasanjo is one of seven new private universities approved by the Federal Executive Council yesterday. With the approval the total number of licensed private universities in the country is now 23.
In addition to The Bells University which would be based in Badagry, Lagos State, others are Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State; Wukari Jubilee University, Taraba State; Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State; Lovena University, Delta State; Renaissance University, Enugu State and the University of Mkar in Benue State.
The seven universities were selected from 145 applications that went through the accreditation programme of the National Universities Commission, NUC, after which their facilitators went through security screeening.
The Acting Minister of Education, Senator Liyel Imoke, told State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Atiku Abubakar, that some of the applications received for the private universities were made as far back as 1996 and none was received later than 2002.
Imoke said that "all the seven universities went through a very rigorous process. The academic programmes of the universities have been structured and tailored towards entrepreneurial disciplines and science and technology. Clearance has been obtained from security agencies on all the trustees of the universities.
"With the licensing of these new universities, we can now have additional facilities. As you know, with a population of 160 million, even though we have so many institutions, we do not have enough to accommodate the young ones who aspire to attend higher institutions", he added.
The Education Minister also said that " before the licensing, the universities normally present details of their programmes and with the licensing, NUC will now accordingly inform the universities and I believe that most of them would strive to achieve their first intake within this year. Most of them are starting small, 300 to 400 students, but that will ultimately grow as they provide infrastructure and other facilities.
"Terms of conditions for clearance include infrastructure, facilities like buildings, accommodation, office and educational facilities, the strength of the faculties, the academic programmes, what they want to teach and offer, the integrity of the proprietors and the trustees. They also look at the funding of these institutions. We must establish that these institutions have adequate liquid funding for take-off. We also look at the futuristic programme and the programme as it develops", he said.
The FEC also yesterday, approved the formation of a committee that would harmonise the activities and operations of all security agencies and other agencies of government at the nation's airports to avoid conflict.
Minister of Aviation, Mallam Isa Yuguda, said "there was need to ensure harmony at the nation's airports to ensure security, safety and efficient service delivery to our travelling public.
The large number of operatives at the nation's airports have made it very difficult for a traveller to pass through the airport and clear luggage within the stipulated 45 minutes".