The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved provisional licenses for 11 new private universities across Nigeria, further expanding the country’s higher education sector.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the approvals after the FEC meeting, also disclosed that a moratorium has been placed on the issuance of licenses for additional private universities.
However, he clarified that institutions already in advanced stages of the approval process would not be affected.
The newly approved institutions include: New City University, Ayetoro, Ogun State; University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Eranova University, Mabushi, FCT; and Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun State.
Others are Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara State; Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State and Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun State.
Also approved are Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City, Edo State; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos; and Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
Alausa reassured that the FEC remains committed to expanding access to quality tertiary education and will continue to evaluate universities that meet the required standards and investment criteria.
With these approvals, Nigeria has over 150 private universities, a significant increase in response to the growing demand for higher education in the country.
The FEC also approved a policy to support local manufacturing of leather goods and footwear, with N500 million set aside to empower women in the sector.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, announced this on Monday after the FEC meeting.
According to the Minister, the approval grants the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology the mandate to supply starter packs for leather and footwear manufacturing, a sector where women play a crucial role.
“This is exciting for us because it encourages women’s participation in an industry with high potential for economic growth,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
She added that the initiative ensures that a portion of the intervention is allocated to women, providing them with the necessary tools to scale their businesses and contribute to local production.
“We pushed for a portion of this intervention to be allocated to women, ensuring they have the necessary tools to scale their businesses and contribute to local production,” she explained.
Beyond empowering female entrepreneurs, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that the intervention would also boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by strengthening local manufacturing.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
