Out of the over 2.4 million university admissions granted by Federal, State and Private universities between 2017 and 2022, only a meagre number of 175,645 admissions were granted to candidates by 97 private universities, investigations by The PUNCH revealed.
This knowledge came to the fore a few weeks after the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki disclosed that private universities in Nigeria were undersubscribed.
When asked to list some of the causes for the low subscription, Maiyaki said, “Cost, as private universities typically have higher tuition fees compared to public institutions; location, as some private universities might be located in less accessible areas, making them less appealing to students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds; academic reputation, as newer private universities might be struggling to establish a strong reputation compared to well-established public institutions.
However, the NUC recently revealed that it was still considering over 270 fresh applications for the establishment of private universities in the country, apart from the 37 private universities granted licences towards the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2023.
But an educationist and founder of the Canadian University of Nigeria in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Adamu Gwarzo, expressed confidence that the exodus of Nigerians abroad for university education will soon stop owing to the rising investments in private university education in the country.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that within the period under review, the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Al-qalam University and Covenant University were the only universities with more than 10,000 students.
While Afe Babalola granted a total of 10,981 admissions, Al-qalam University followed with 10,530 and Covenant University with 10,472 admissions.
Others on the list include Lead City University with 8,399 admissions; Madonna University with 6,417; Bingham University, 6,098; Bowen University 5,875; Bells University, 6,009; Al-Hikmah University, 5,487; Adeleke University 5,203; Nile University, 4,762; Benson Idahosa University, 4,529; Landmark University, 4,333; Ajayi Crowther University, 4,053; Veritas University, 3,551; Godfrey Okoye University, 3,369; University of Africa, 3,230; Caritas University, 3,082; Achievers University, 2,753; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, 2,606.
Baze University, 2,490; Oduduwa University, 2,451; Dennis Osadabey University, 2,266; Mountain Top University, 2,213; Igbinedion University, 2,092; North West University, 2,062; Elizade University, 2,017; Crawford University, 2,010; Gregory University, 1,998; Maryam Abacha University, 1,887; Fountain University, 1,758; Crescent University, 1,743; Evangel University, 1,725; Novena University, 1,428; Clifford University, 1,398.
American University Yola, 1,337; Coal City University, 1,298; Pan-Atlantic University, 1,296; Edwin Clark University, 1,160; Anchor University, 1,125; Chrisland University, 1,080; Tansian University, 1,070, among others.
An education analyst, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin who spoke to our correspondent, noted that the low subscription in private universities can be traced to various factors.
“You need to understand that we are a poor country. How many people can even afford the new fees in federal universities, talkmore of private universities?
“Another thing is that most people look at the quality of these schools. Some of them are relatively new, and no one wants to bear the certificate of an institution that is not recognised,” he added.