NUC Suspends Operational License of 7 Universities (5 Church Universities)

Something is terribly wrong with Nigerian education.

When President Goodluck promised to establish a Federal University in every state (including building specialist Almajiri schools) - I was not taken in, unlike many other Nigerians.

I have always been of the opinion that the rot in the existing Universities needs to be fixed before we even begin to think of building new ones. Our existing Universities are underfunded, understaffed, and the rot looks set to continue. In an earlier post on facebook, I talked about how I could not properly test my project (a solar powered refrigerator) because my department (Mechanical Engineering, OAU) did not have the necessary equipment (thermocouples, etc).

At least one Federal Agency seems to be taking their oversight duties seriously. This morning, I read that the NUC has suspended the operational licenses of the following private universities for violating its guidelines in physical facilities and academic programs:

• Achievers.
• Caritas.
• Joseph Ayo Babalola.
• Lead City.
• Madonna.
• Obong.
• Tansian.

It is interesting that five (5) of these seven universities are owned/run/founded by churches.

Read my earlier thoughts on church universities on the Daily Times blog.