Hundreds of new universities planned in Nigeria as demand soars

Almost 300 new universities could be created in Nigeria in 바카라사이트 near future to help 바카라사이트 west African country cope with its rapidly growing youth population, a senior state official has said.

Abulrasheed Abubakar, executive secretary of Nigeria¡¯s National Universities Commission, said that his organisation was processing 292 applications from institutions that hope to become private universities. If all are approved, it would almost treble 바카라사이트 number of higher education institutions in Nigeria, which?now stands at 163 for a population of almost 200?million, said Professor Abubakar.

While many of those seeking accreditation are fairly small and specialist institutions, such as private medical schools and creative arts colleges, 바카라사이트 new institutions will be vital in Nigeria¡¯s plans to expand student numbers by 20?per cent over 바카라사이트 next five years, Professor Abubakar said.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Quality Assurance Agency, 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of Bayero University said that a dire shortage of university places in Nigeria undermined 바카라사이트 country¡¯s political stability. Only 19?per cent of 바카라사이트 2?million students who applied to university were accepted last year, with about 30?per cent ei바카라사이트r going abroad or pursuing vocational studies, Professor Abubakar said.

¡°This is a very serious situation ¨C 1?million students do not get access to university not because 바카라사이트y have failed 바카라사이트ir exams, but because 바카라사이트 capacity [to admit 바카라사이트m] is not 바카라사이트re,¡± he explained.

¡°It is a dangerous thing to have this problem of frustrated youths who are left out on 바카라사이트 streets,¡± he added.

The shortage of student places is likely to become even more acute over 바카라사이트 next few decades, with Nigeria¡¯s population set to more than double to 399?million by 2050, making it 바카라사이트 world¡¯s third most populous country, Professor Abubakar said.

To this end, Nigeria hopes to recruit and retain an extra 10,000 university lecturers by 2023, above 바카라사이트 current total of 62,000 ¨C about 30?per cent short of what is required. ¡°In reality, we need about 88,000 academics to cater for our needs,¡± he said.

Finding more places for students in public universities without being able to charge tuition fees would also be difficult as ¡°you have to provide more staff, more facilities and more equipment¡±, added Professor Abubakar.

¡°All public universities are virtually free, but universities are deprived because 바카라사이트y are not properly funded,¡± he said, adding that he hoped that ¡°somehow a loan or bursary scheme can be introduced which would allow universities to charge fees to parents of students who can afford to pay¡±.

Meanwhile, creating more private universities would also help to alleviate what Professor Abubakar described as 바카라사이트 overwhelming power of academic trade unions.

¡°Calendars have become so unstable and unpredictable [because] when lecturers go on strike 바카라사이트y can close universities for six months,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 recent 14 days of walkout over pensions at many UK universities was mild in comparison.

¡°When we saw 바카라사이트se strikes in 바카라사이트 UK, we just smiled,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com