In a landmark development aimed at expanding Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted provisional licenses to 11 new private universities, bringing the total number of universities in the country to 298—of which 159 (over 53%) are privately owned.

At the formal presentation ceremony held in Abuja, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, described the expansion as a necessary response to the growing demand for access to higher education. He stressed the importance of private universities in complementing public institutions and driving educational innovation across Nigeria.

The licenses, valid for an initial period of three years, come with strict performance benchmarks. Institutions are required to undergo mandatory resource verification before full approval is granted, ensuring compliance with national academic standards.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, welcomed the development as a critical component of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative. He underscored the government’s renewed focus on STEMM disciplines—Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences—urging new universities to steer students toward problem-solving skills and technical expertise needed for national development.

“Nigeria has more than enough social science graduates,” Alausa said. “What we need now are industry-ready graduates who can build infrastructure, improve lives, and drive innovation.”

The Minister also encouraged new institutions to forge international partnerships and collaborate on cutting-edge research. He warned that licensing must not be symbolic but must lead to measurable academic impact.

Among the newly licensed universities are:

• New City University, Ogun State
• Lens University, Kwara State
• Kevin Ezeh University, Enugu State
• Monarch University, Ogun State
• Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Edo State
• Isaac Balami University of Aeronautic and Management, Lagos State
• Eranova University, FCT
• Southern Atlantic University, Akwa Ibom
• University of Fortune, Ondo State
• Minaret University, Osun State
• Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University, Kwara State

For UNILAGFEAA, this announcement underscores the growing competition in Nigeria’s academic space and highlights the critical importance of sustained alumni support, innovation-driven learning environments, and industry-aligned training—areas in which the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Lagos continues to lead.

As Nigeria’s higher education system evolves, UNILAGFEAA remains committed to its mission of strengthening engineering education through mentorship, infrastructure development, and academic-industry partnerships.