As of November 27, 2023, a total of 147 private universities
have been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National
Universities Commission.
These institutions exist alongside the universities owned by
both the Federal and state governments respectively.
Incessant industrial actions, poor funding and the rot in
public universities have continued to give rise to the existence of private
universities in the country as their numbers grew from just three in 1999 to
147 in 2023 with the NUC noting that it has over 270 pending requests for the
establishment of new private universities.
Analysis of the private universities as obtained from the
website of the NUC on Tuesday by our correspondent revealed that most of these
private universities are floated by religious organisations alongside past and
serving politicians.
Here are some of the private
universities floated by the Nigerian political class.
1. Bells University, Ogun state- This institution was
founded by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo. The institution also has on its
board a former governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dakwambo, and a former senator
representing Ogun Central, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello.
2. American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa state: This
school is owned by a former vice-president of Nigeria and the presidential
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku
Abubakar.
3. Amaj University, Kwali, Abuja: This institution is owned
by a former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa. The University
received its license in 2023 and is one of the youngest private universities in
the country.
4. Hensard University, Bayelsa state: Like Amaj University,
Hensard is also one of the newly licensed private universities in Nigeria and
is owned by a former governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson.
5. PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Rivers state: A
former governor of Rivers state, Peter Odili is the founder of PAMO University
of Medical Sciences, the first private medical university in Nigeria. The
institution also has on its board, former military administrator, Gen.
Abdulsalam Abubakar, a senator representing Katsina South, Abu Ibrahim.
6. Baze University, Abuja: A one-time senator and vice
presidential candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential
election, Datti Baba-Ahmed is the founder of Abuja-based University, Baze.
7. Eastern Palms University, Imo state: A former governor of
Imo state and senator who represented Imo West senatorial district in the ninth
senate, Rochas Okorocha is the founder of this institution.
8. Edwin Clark University: A former federal commissioner of
Information and elder statesman, Edwin Clark is the founder of Edwin Clark
University.
9. Sports University, Delta State: This first private
university of sports is owned by a current senator, Ned Nwoko. He obtained the
license for the institution in 2021.
Meanwhile, some other private universities also have past
and serving politicians as members of the Board of Trustees and governing
councils.
For instance, The current First Lady and former senator
representing Lagos West senatorial district, Remi Tinubu is a member of the
board of trustees at Kings University in Odemu, Osun state.
The Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN is a
member, board of trustees, Achievers University.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike
Dabiri-Erewa, Senator representing Imo West senatorial district, Osita Izunaso
among others sit on the governing council of Abuja-based Nile University.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sam Ohuabunwa
is the Chairman of the Council, Gregory University Uturu in Abia state.
Kaduna-based Greenfield University also has on its board, a
former member of the Eighth House of Representatives, Muhammed Usman as a
member among others.
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