Tag: NUC

  • NUC reiterates commitment to quality university education

    NUC reiterates commitment to quality university education

    The Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has reiterated its commitment to the international benchmark in providing 21st century knowledge-driven education and fostering intellectual growth across the country.

    The NUC deputy director, Mrs Anthonia Bawa, spoke in Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere Council Area of Ekiti state on Tuesday, July 9, during the opening ceremony of the accreditation excercise of 45 academic programmes at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology. 

    Bawa said that NUC, as the regulatory agency for universities in Nigeria  was irrevocably commited to ensuring proper development of university education and implementation of minimum academic standards. 

    She expressed joy the commission is achieving its goals and objectives going by distinguished quality of graduates being produced by Nigerian universities who she said can favourably compete with their counterparts in other climes. 

    She said that the accreditation excercise was not to witch hunt anyone but rather to verify the quality of physical facilities and human resources available for the commencement of new programmes.

    The director added that the accreditation was necessary to holistically evaluate proposed programmes to ensuring the university meet the global benchmark for quality academic standard.

    She commended BOUESTI management for its enthusiastic reception of the  NUC team,assuring that the delegation would carried out the exercise with high sense of professionalism. 

    In his remarks, BOUESTI Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa assured the NUC members of the NUC delegation of the university’s cooperation and support to ensure a smooth exercise during its stay in the institution. 

    Adeoluwa said expressed optimism that the maiden accreditation exercise for the institution’s 45 academic programmes would be accredited after completion of the excercise because the management has best its meet the requirements set by the NUC. 

    He said: “This is a special time in the prestigious bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology being the maiden accreditation of the 45 programmes we started with. We now have 78 programmes. The first 45 are to be accredited this week and today is the starting point. 

    Read Also: NUC gives full accreditation to McPherson varsity’s seven programmes

    “We are ready for the exercise. I must tell you that there’s no university in Nigeria that is perfect especially when it has to do with staffing because the brain drain has affected university education in Nigeria. But even then we have done our best to be able to have requisite number and quality of staff we are supposed to  have in some of the programmes. We they get there, they we see what we have presented and they would be able to  assess us. 

    “Our hope is to have full accreditation for every of those 45 programmes. We have done our best. Like I told them, we don’t do window dressing here. Whatever they have seen is what we have because we believe we our programmes is strong that the students will be able to benefit and the nation itself will be able to have well grounded graduates. So, we expect positive results from NUC”, he added. 

  • NUC accredits all programmes of CUSTECH for take–off

    NUC accredits all programmes of CUSTECH for take–off

    • Approves eight others

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has given full accreditation for all the take-off academic programmes of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State.
    Registrar of CUSTECH Ms. Olufunke Hudson confirmed this in a statement yesterday. She said the full accreditation status highlights the university’s dedication to upholding excellence.
    Ms. Hudson added that the development has positioned CUSTECH among the esteemed institutions renowned for upholding the utmost standards of academic undertakings and quality.
    The accredited programmes include Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics.
    Others are Computer Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering and Information Technology.
    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulrahman Salawu, expressed delight over the feat.

    Read Also: NUC accredits all programmes of CUSTECH for take-off


    Salawu said: “We are delighted to have obtained full accreditation for all programmes tendered for evaluation, which serves as evidence of the commitment and effort put forth by our staff and students.
    “This achievement demonstrates our steadfast dedication to delivering a high-quality education that equips our students for prosperous futures.”
    Prof. Salawu hinted that the institution, in keeping pace with its academic development plans, has forwarded applications for the establishment of six other programmes to the NUC for approval which will begin with the newly approved ones in the 2024/2025 academic session.
    The programmes, largely in Medical Sciences, are Medicine, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Law, Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering.
    The don also hinted that the proposed teaching hospital facility for clinical training was already operational.

  • NUC approves 21 new academic courses in ATBU

    NUC approves 21 new academic courses in ATBU

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the accreditation of 21 new academic courses at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi.

    Similarly, all courses offered at the seven Colleges of Education and Polytechnics affiliated with ATBU have been approved.

    The NUC has fully accredited all nine courses offered under the World Bank-supported Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standard Enhancement Projects – Center of Excellence (SPESSE-CE) at the university.

    The commission also gave approval for the establishment of three new faculties at ATBU: the Faculty of Computing, the Faculty of Dentistry, and the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences. 

    Director of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations , Zailani Bappa made the announcement in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi on Wednessday.

    According to the statement, Acting Vice-Chancellor of ATBU, Professor Sani Usman Kunya, noted that the approvals came at a time when the university is striving for excellence in all academic pursuits.

    Read Also: NANS urges NUC to monitor admission quota of professional courses

    Professor Kunya explained that the university sought accreditation for 25 courses from the NUC, of which 21 were fully accredited. 

    “Three courses received interim accreditation, and one course, Urban and Regional Planning, was denied accreditation.

    “We are fully committed to addressing the challenges faced by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning,” said Professor Kunya.

    The Acting Vice-Chancellor also assured that the university has made all necessary preparations for the successful launch of the new faculties and departments, adding that the 

    the university’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has successfully commenced  academic session.

  • NUC grants Thomas Adewumi varsity full accreditation

    NUC grants Thomas Adewumi varsity full accreditation

    National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full accreditation to Thomas Adewumi University Oko-Irese, Irepodun Local Government,  Kwara State.

    The approval followed TAU’s outstanding performance in  the October/November 2024 Accreditation exercise carried out by the Commission

     The result of the accreditation exercise was communicated to the university through a letter dated 6th June 2024 and signed by the commission’s Acting Director of Accreditation, Engr. Abraham Chundusu.

    The result revealed that all the 11 Academic Programmes presented by the university received FULL Accreditation from the NUC, translating to 100% pass mark.

    Read Also: Sallah tragedy: 19 die, five injured in Kwara auto crash

     The accredited courses are Accounting, Business Administration, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Mass communications, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Criminology, Security Studies, and Economics.

     The institution had previously secured the full accreditation of both the NUC and the Nursing Council for the B. Nursing Science programme as well as the approval for the LLB Law programme from both the NUC and the Council of Legal Education.

    The accreditation process involved a comprehensive review of the university’s academic programmes, institutional resources including physical facilities, faculty qualifications, student support services, and so on.

  • NUC accredits 20 academic programmes for Dangote varsity

    NUC accredits 20 academic programmes for Dangote varsity

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted accreditation to 20 academic programs at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil.

    This announcement was made by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Musa Tukur Yakasai, in a statement to the press on Wednesday.

    The Vice Chancellor revealed that the NUC had evaluated 24 of their academic programs, with 20 receiving full accreditation status.

    The remaining four programmes were given interim accreditation status, indicating that they require improvement in certain areas.

    It was gathered that the rigorous accreditation process assessed the quality and standards of educational offerings by the Dangote varsity across various disciplines.

    The programmes that received full accreditation after the NUC’s assessment include: Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forestry and Wildlife Management, Architecture, Information and Communication Technology, Automobile Technology Education, Building Technology Education, Computer Science Education, Education Mathematics and Metalwork Technology Education.

    Other accredited programmes include Woodwork Technology Education, Automotive Engineering, Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Quantity Survey, Biochemistry, Science Laboratory Technology, Geography and Meteorology.

    “This accomplishment reflects our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality education and maintaining academic excellence.

    “The pogrammes with full accreditation have met and exceeded the NUC’s stringent standards, ensuring robust academic curricula, competent faculty, adequate facilities, and significant research outputs.

    “The university administration is dedicated to continuous improvement and enhancement of our academic programmes,” Prof Musa Yakasai said.

    Speaking on the four academic programmes that were not granted full accreditation status, the VC said the university would promptly address the areas requiring improvement to achieve full accreditation shortly.

    “We are implementing strategic measures to upgrade the resources and infrastructure necessary for the programmes with interim status, ensuring they meet the high standards set by the NUC,” he said.

  • NUC warns against appointing inexperienced individuals to university governing councils

    NUC warns against appointing inexperienced individuals to university governing councils

    The National University Commission (NUC) has expressed concern about the appointment of inexperienced individuals to the governing councils of both private and public universities.

    The commission stated that some appointees see the positions as opportunities for financial gain rather than as a call to serve the university community.

    Dr. Noel Biodun Saliu, Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC, made these remarks during the seventh annual registry lecture at Elizade University in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State.

    Dr. Saliu criticized the politicization of the appointment process for the chairpersons and members of university governing councils in Nigeria.

    He also highlighted that some private university owners were persisting in running their institutions as family businesses, thereby undermining the authority of the Vice Chancellor.

    He said the dissolution of governing councils by the president and governors on the assumption of office was inimical to the growth of the university system.

    In his lecture titled: “The Nigerian University System and Its Many Challenges: The Way Forward”, Dr. Saliu stated that some Visitors to universities dictate the administrative operations of their universities without recourse to the law.

    He called on private university owners to stop seeing their universities as profit-making ventures for the first 10 years of the commencement of academic activities.

    Saliu called for a review of the NUC laws to allow for effective regulation of the universities.

    He said: “Some Visitors to universities dictate the administrative operations of their universities without recourse to the respective University Law. This scenario is mostly common with private and state universities. It has manifested in the dissolution of governing councils by new administrations both at the state and federal levels, and the arbitrary suspension or removal from office of Vice-Chancellors in some instances without regard to extant regulations.

    Read Also: NUC directs outgoing VCs to appoint deputies in acting positions

    “It is more worrisome in most private universities where some proprietors are unrepentant in the decision to run their universities as family businesses thereby usurping the powers of the Vice-Chancellor. The appointment of inexperienced persons into university councils also calls for concern as most of the appointees, particularly for the public universities see such appointments as political settlement for money making and not a call to service.”

    “There should be imported budgetary allocation and releases to public universities and improved subvention for private universities by their respective owners.”

    The registrar of Elizade University, Omololu Adegbenro, expressed optimism that the lecture would inspire new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and foster connections.

  • NUC directs outgoing VCs to appoint deputies in acting positions

    NUC directs outgoing VCs to appoint deputies in acting positions

    The federal government has directed outgoing vice-chancellors in federal universities to nominate their deputies to temporarily serve as acting vice-chancellors until new ones are appointed.

    The directive was conveyed by the Federal Ministry of Education to the National Universities Commission in a letter to the commission.

    The ministry, through the letter, notified the commission on the end of the tenure of some vice-chancellors.

    Read Also: NUC approves 25 programmes for Adeyemi varsity

    While saying the appointment of the acting vice-chancellors should be done through the recommendations of the universities’ senates, NUC said the soon-to-be inaugurated governing councils of the universities would appoint acting vice-chancellors after their inauguration.

    A copy of the letter obtained by newsmen in Abuja and signed by the acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, read: “I write, further to previous communication Ref. No. NUC/ES/138/Vol. 65/88 and dated 27 May 2024, to convey the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, vide its letter Ref. No. FME/TE/CỰ/130/T6/458 and dated 28 May 2024 (copy attached), to the effect that Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, who are rounding up their tenures, are to nominate, through the recommendation of their Senates, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor that will oversee the office of the Vice-Chancellor in a temporary capacity.

    “The governing councils, after their inauguration, will appoint Acting Vice-Chancellors for a period not less than 6 months, during which they will commence the process of appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellors.

    “This circular takes pre-eminence over our earlier communication on the same subject. Please accept the assurances of my highest considerations, always.”

  • Governing councils of varsities will be constituted soon – NUC

    Governing councils of varsities will be constituted soon – NUC

    The secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki has said that the federal government is working to reconstitute the governing councils of universities.

    He said the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman has put in place a panel to work on the list.

    The NUC executive secretary said the councils would be inaugurated once the list was consummated.

    Maiyaki spoke with education reporters in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The executive secretary was responding to the two-week ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities for the government to reconstitute the governing councils of public universities.

    “To reconstitute the councils of 61 universities is not a small feat. Government is working to ensure that people that are qualified and with the right pedigree are put in those councils,” Maiyaki said.

    The executive secretary agreed that the absence of governing councils for public universities was slowing down the administration of the universities.

    Read Also: NUC approves mentoring of Daura Federal Varsity by ABU

    He appealed to the leadership of ASUU to be patient with the government during the period.

    The NUC had on June 22, 2023, announced the dissolution of governing councils of all federal universities and boards of other agencies and parastatals in the country.

    The NUC directive was based on a similar one three days earlier by President Bola Tinubu ordering the dissolution of the boards of all government parastatals, agencies, and companies.

  • NUC approves mentoring of Daura Federal Varsity by ABU

    NUC approves mentoring of Daura Federal Varsity by ABU

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the appointment of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as the mentor of the Federal University of Transportation Daura (FUTD).

    The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Sa’idu Ahmed-Alkali who made the above disclosure in Daura during an inspection visit to the University, said that when he came on board as the minister, he met a beautiful edifice, but very unfortunate that only a Vice-Chancellor (VC) was appointed for it

    He said: “And you know a university needs four principal staff for takeoff, that’s the VC, Bursar, Librarian and also the Registrar.

    “What I did was to approach the National University Commission (NUC) to appoint a mentor university for us, so that we’ll be able to start admission in the 2023/2024 academic year, and ABU was appointed.

    “Another challenge we had then, was the university was not captured in the 2023 appropriation year, so we had to source for funds to start academic activities for the session.

    ‘’Graciously, President Bola Tinubu approved the university to be enlisted in the 2024 appropriation, and they later contacted NUC for accreditation, to enable them to commence academic activities.

     “We also had to approach the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to open their portal through the change of institution.

    “Graciously students have applied for the change of institution from those they have applied earlier, to the federal university of Transportation Daura.

    “After the accreditation, the university admitted over 500 students enlisted in 14 different disciplines. We outsourced lecturers on a visiting basis, and lectures have commenced.”

    Read Also: NUC applauds structures at Godwin Maduka’s Medical Varsity Anambra

    Responding to students’ complaints, the minister assured them to look into them, especially the issue of inadequate power supply, provision of potable drinking water, and means of transportation.

    He further assured that his ministry had approached the Tertiary Education Fund (TedFund), and the University had met all the checklists for their intervention.

    He said: “So the university will be enlisted for next year so that we have more infrastructure for the University to grow.”

    He commended the pioneer VC of the university, Prof Umar Adam-Katsayal for his performance towards the progress of the institution.

  • NUC applauds structures at Godwin Maduka’s Medical Varsity Anambra

    NUC applauds structures at Godwin Maduka’s Medical Varsity Anambra

    A delegation of the National Universities Commission (NUC) has visited proposed Transatlantic Medicine and Heath Science University in Anambra spearheaded by popular US-based medical doctor and philanthropist, Dr. Godwin Maduka.

    The NUC team led by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Chris Maiyaki expressed satisfaction with the quality of structure put in place expected to house the medical university.

    The multi-billion investment is believed to be part of efforts to redirect part of his business interests back to Nigeria from US where he has six hospitals and empower experts locally, especially with the growing brain drain in the industry.

    The NUC inspection team was accorded befitting reception by the jubilant community.

    Maiyaki applauded Maduka for his decision to float such a gigantic project, expressing the readiness of the university regulator to offer the needed support in ensuring that more opportunities are available for human capital development in the country.

    According to the NUC Executive Secretary, with a project of this nature, Nigeria will groom the needed manpower that will provide medical services to the teeming populace.

    Among the structures housing the proposed university is a 17-storey building reputed to be the tallest building in the South East and South South.

    Read Also: Ndume condemns electricity tariff hike

    Also contained in the proposed university are residences for the Principal Officers – VC, Bursar, Registra, Librarian, lecture theatre, administratives, hostel and other blocks.

    Maduka said the project has become necessary in view of the ‘japa’ syndrome in the medical industry. He assured that the university will be fully functional in September with the admissions of students and other academic activities.

    The medical institution will house among others, pharmacy, dental, nursing, radiology technology and other allied health and research students.

    A team from Project Implementation Committee was also at the inspection tour.