The Federal Government has approved the establishment of 37 new private universities across the country.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced this on Monday, in Abuja, while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of an Extraordinary meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the approval followed a memo presented by the Ministry of Education at the Cabinet meeting.
According to Adamu, the approval was given, considering the importance of education in bolstering the economic fortunes of the country.
Adamu, who declined to mention the names of the newly-approved higher institutions of learning only revealed that one of the 37 was an online university operated by a female Chancellor from Bauchi State.
Monday’s approval brings the total number of universities approved for establishment under the Buhari-led government to 72. They include 14 Federal Universities, 21 State Universities and 37 Private Universities from 2015 to date.
Asked about the FG’s move to establish more universities despite the ailing public university structure nationwide, Adamu argued that the country needs more universities to school its swelling youth population.
He said, “We need more universities. The existence of the many universities should not deter the creation of new ones. Besides, these are private universities.”
