The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has applauded President Bola Tinubu for granting provisional licences for 11 new private universities.
National Deputy Chairman of NAPTAN, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
Ogunbanjo expressed the hope that the approval would create more opportunities for Nigerians to acquire tertiary education.
“President Bola Tinubu has done very well. Candidates write UTME yearly. So, establishing more universities will cater for the need of more people seeking education.
“However, the Federal Government should ensure that the newly-approved institutions make education affordable in terms of fees, while adequate facilities should be on ground,” he said.
He said the universities should give attention to research and devote adequate funds for it.
Read Also: FEC approves ₦10.3bn for diabetes kits, HIV drugs, hospital equipment
Deputy Registrar at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Mr. Joe Ejiofor, told NAN that the new universities would contribute to education development.
Ejiofor advised the institutions not to prioritise profit over education quality. According to him, Nigeria hosts about 150 private universities.
“This expansion may challenge the NUC’s ability to effectively regulate and oversee the quality of education in the ever-growing private university sector,” he said.
Also, Dr. Azeez Wahab, a former Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Yaba called on the new institutions to live up to expectations.
Wahab noted that university operations required lots of funding for effective teaching and learning.
“It is advisable for them to engage the services of qualified staff,” he said.
He praised Tinubu for granting the licences.