Ahmad Tijjani Abdul, Kano
The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday in Kano hinged their support for more universities in Nigeria to the upsurge in the number of students seeking admission annually.
Professor Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria University Commission (NUC) told reporters at the end of his final facility tour to Capital City University, Kano that only 500,000 out of 2 million prospective candidates secure admission yearly.
Professor Rasheed who was represented by Ibrahim Usman Yakasai, Director, Public Affairs at the Commission, said “annually over 2 million candidates try to gain admission to tertiary institutions in the country while the capacity of all the institutions does not exceed 500,000.”
Yakasai stated that the federal government in collaboration with other stakeholders are committed to the establishment of more universities to remedy the huge deficit in the sector.
He however expressed satisfaction with the level of infrastructure development on ground at Capital City University, Kano, as he assured of NUC’s support to the proposed University, and other proposed tertiary institutions in the country.
Alhaji Abdulmalik Isah, one of the proprietors of the proposed private university told newsmen on the sideline that the new tertiary institution is scheduled to take off next year.
Alhaji Isa, who also doubles as Dan Iya of Ebiraland said the new varsity is science based, adding that emphasis is on entrepreneurship, and skills acquisition.