Hillside University, 36 Others Get NUC Licence

Hillside University of Science and Technology in Okemesi Ekiti and 36 other Universities newly established by the Federal Government have been presented provisional licence of operation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

This epoch making event took place in Abuja today where the Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed presented the licences to the universities making the number of private universities in the country to now stand at 147.

Prof Rasheed, who said that the country now has 264 universities, said that investment in tertiary education was a pre-requisite for human capital development in the country. It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 15.

The Executive Secretary said that access to university education remained a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school graduates.

In a good will message, the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-shaq Oloyede urged the universities proprietors to start on a good note while following procedures and standards.

Oloyede also urged them never to outsource their admissions but follow the admission procedures.

Meanwhile, the Owaoye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Michael Adedeji Gbadebo and President of the Federation of Okemesi Improvement Union (FOIU), host community of Hillside University of Science and Technology, Mr Nathaniel Olaoye have  expressed their joy over the development.  They congratulated the Proprietor of the University, Pastor Jayeola Olaoye on the new feat. 

Former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke, All Progressives Congress National National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, former Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, among others graced the occasion.

The lists of the newly licensed private universities are: Rayhaan University, Kebbi state, Muhammad Kamalu-Deen University, Kwara state, Sam Maris University, Ondo state and Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state.

Others are Lux Mundi University, Abia state,Maduka University, Enugu state, Peaceland University, Enugu state, Amadeus University, Abia state, Vision University , Ogun state, Azman University, Kano state, Huda University, Zamfara state, Franco British International University, Kanuna and Canadian University of Nigeria, FCT.

On the list are Miva Open University, FCT, Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Ogun state, British Canadian University, Cross River state, Hensard University, Bayelsa state, Phoenix University, Nasarawa State Wigwe University, Rivers state and *Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti state*.

Also, University of the Niger, Anambra state Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano state, Venite University, Ekiti state, Shanahan University, Anambra state, the Duke Medical University, Cross River state, Mercy Medical University, Osun state, Cosmopolitan University, FCT, Iconic Open University, Sokoto state, West Midland Open University, Oyo State and Amaj University, FCT are in the list

In the list are also Prime University, FCT, El-Amin University, Niger state, College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna state, Jewel University, Gombe, Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Lagos State, Al-Muhibbah Open University, FCT and Al-Bayan University, Kogi state