The Federal Ministry of Education, under the guidance of the Federal Government, has initiated a comprehensive review of private universities established in Nigeria over the last 15 years.
The announcement, made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Tuesday, underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring quality, legitimacy, and accountability in the nation’s higher education sector.
The primary objective of the newly inaugurated committee is to assess whether these private institutions have adhered to the stipulated standards, encompassing the presence of prescribed facilities, an effective management structure, and ample funding for their academic programs.
This proactive move is in response to mounting concerns regarding the quality of education and the legitimacy of degrees offered by some of these institutions.
Prof. Mamman emphasized that the inter-ministerial committee would also investigate allegations of degree certificate racketeering, a problem purportedly affecting both foreign and local private universities in Nigeria.
The committee’s thorough examination aims to determine the authenticity of these allegations and gauge the extent of such malpractices within the education sector.
Among the committee’s multifaceted responsibilities, the minister outlined key tasks, including reviewing the role of government agencies or officials in facilitating the recognition and procurement of allegedly fake certificates.
The committee will also scrutinize existing policies and procedures related to accreditation and certification to identify any weaknesses contributing to the identified issues.
Furthermore, the committee is mandated to assess the rules, procedures, and processes governing the recognition and accreditation of foreign universities and programs by the Federal Ministry of Education.
It will investigate the existence of unapproved foreign institutions, commonly known as “Degree Mills,” and provide recommendations to fortify the system of recognition, accreditation, and quality assurance of degrees in Nigeria.
In its comprehensive review, the committee will also examine the rules, procedures, and processes for granting provisional licenses to new universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Additionally, it will assess the effectiveness of the procedures for periodic accreditation of programs in universities by the NUC in ensuring the quality assurance of academic offerings.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, emphasized that the committee’s findings and recommendations would play a crucial role in shaping policies, procedures, and regulations to prevent future occurrences and ensure the continuous enhancement of the higher education system in Nigeria.
