The Federal Government has approved the establishment of nine new private universities across Nigeria, aiming to expand access to higher education and enhance academic competitiveness.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the approvals on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
The newly approved universities 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.
Dr. Alausa revealed that the Tinubu administration inherited 551 pending requests for the establishment of tertiary institutions.
After a rigorous review process with stricter approval guidelines, the list narrowed to 79 active applications.
Out of these, nine universities met the government’s criteria and received final approval on Wednesday.
Many of the approved universities had waited for accreditation for over six years.
Their promoters had already invested billions of naira in constructing campuses and establishing academic programs.
“Due to inefficiencies within the National Universities Commission (NUC), approvals were delayed.
We have since introduced reforms to streamline these processes, and today’s approvals result from clearing this backlog,” Alausa explained.
The Minister emphasized that the government’s intervention ensures that quality education reaches more students while maintaining regulatory standards.
He noted that these universities will contribute significantly to the national economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and enhancing Nigeria’s human capital development.
Dr. Alausa also confirmed that the Federal Government had placed a moratorium on new applications for private universities during the review period, ensuring thorough evaluation of pending requests before considering fresh submissions.
Educational experts welcomed the move, arguing that the approvals would improve access to tertiary education, particularly in underserved regions, while encouraging healthy competition among private institutions.
With these nine universities now cleared, the government aims to accelerate the accreditation process further, ensuring that students can enroll in fully recognized institutions without unnecessary delays.