Govt okays seven more varsities

The Federal Government yesterday granted provisional licences for seven more private universities in the country.

The latest approval brings the number of universities in the country to 96 out of which 24 are private.

Granting the approval, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), explained that the approval was given to enhance the standard of education in the country.

The Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, who briefed the State House correspondents, listed the new institutions as Wellspring University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State, Paul Universities, Awka, Anambra State, Rhema University, Obeama-Asa, Rivers State, Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu State and Nigerian Turkish Nile, University, Abuja.

The Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aisha Duku, said the provisional licensces were given to only individuals or group who met a set of conditions by the National Universities Commission (NUC).