The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria their first meeting in 2013 held Wednesday, approved additional three new federal universities to be sited in Gashua (Yobe); Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi) and Gusau (Zamfara).
When this development is fully operational, every state of the federation can then boast of a federal university.
Minister of Information, who disclosed this at the end of the meeting in Abuja said the decision was in fulfillment of government’s plan for each state to have a federal university.
Wednesday’s decision was on the heels of the disclosure by the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama that the transformation efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan has secured Nigeria a slot among 16 developing nations to be allotted more shares in the World Bank, thus giving the country louder voice and more influence in the global financial institution.
According to the minister, Nigeria was shortlisted from among 118 other countries that were considered based on size and strength of their economies, impact on world economy, and expected growth in GDP.
Speaking on the necessity of the universities, Mr Maku said only 10 per cent school leavers get admission into higher institutions nationwide, because of the limited space available.
Providing further elucidation on government’s decision, Minister of Education, Rukayyatu Rufa’i said out of 1.3 million school leavers that seek entrance to higher institutions every year in the country, less than 200,000 spaces are available in existing institutions.
She said skeletal services are to start as soon as possible in the new universities and that academic work should start by 2014/2015 academic year.
“The establishment of the new universities complement efforts being made by the federal government towards tackling educational challenges at all tiers in the country, from almajiri schools to post primary institutions” she said.
