Victoria Mgbanwa
In a bid to enhance the quality and regulation of private universities in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has suspended inactive applications and significantly increased fees for establishing new private institutions.
According to a memo issued on Monday by the NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, applications that have remained stagnant for over two years—especially those from private open universities—have been put on hold. Similarly, applications that have not progressed beyond the submission of letters of intent have been suspended.
“This is to ensure that newly established private universities are positioned to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
“The fee for the purchase of application forms for the establishment of a private university is hereby reviewed from N1,000,000 to N5,000,000.
“The processing fee for applications for the establishment of a private university is hereby reviewed from N5,000,000 to N25,000,000.” The memo reads.
The memo emphasized that these measures aim to ensure new private universities are equipped to tackle 21st-century educational challenges.
Applicants who have already purchased forms will be notified of the revised processing fee and must complete payment within 30 working days to avoid forfeiting their applications.
These changes mark a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for private universities in Nigeria, reflecting the government’s push for better coordination and quality assurance in higher education.
