ACCORDING to statistics from the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, there are currently 263 tertiary institutions in Nigeria. And 53 of these are federal institutions, 63 are state-owned, and 147 are private institutions. There are more private tertiary institutions than federal and state institutions combined in Nigeria.
There is no gainsaying that if the private tertiary institutions and the students of private tertiary institutions are excluded from any programme in Nigeria today, the implication is that the majority of institutions and their students in Nigeria are left out.
Private institutions in Nigeria
The earliest initiatives and developments in tertiary education in Nigeria was at the instance of Federal and Regional governments; and ultimately, state governments. At that time, there was no teeming population of aspirants who aspired to study at the tertiary level. The story is very different today because there are now millions of aspirants to tertiary institutions every year and there are not enough places to accommodate them.
As the population of aspirants seeking to acquire tertiary education increased, government at the national and sub-national levels responded by establishing more institutions to absorb and train the teeming population of aspirants. When it became clear that the various arms of government could not handle the insufficiency of the numerous institutions, the Nigerian government realised that it would be necessary to invite the private sector for help.
Since 1999, the Federal Government has been granting licenses to private sector promoters to establish private universities in Nigeria. This is obviously in appreciation of the need for private institutions of higher learning to render services and contribute to the socio-economic well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Within the first two decades of establishing private institutions, the private institutions have competed favourably with the government- owned institutions as recent rankings by reputable ranking bodies indicate. The private universities have restored the hope of students and sponsors alike that students can study with a stable calendar and graduate as planned.
Without delving into all the particular achievements of private universities in Nigeria, especially in recent times, it needs to be said that all the achievements of the private universities and their students have been accomplished through private financing.
Within the first two decades of establishing private institutions, the private institutions have competed favourably with the government- owned institutions as recent rankings by reputable ranking bodies indicate. The private universities have restored the hope of students and sponsors alike that students can study with a stable calendar and graduate as planned.
Without delving into all the particular achievements of private universities in Nigeria, especially in recent times, it needs to be said that all the achievements of the private universities and their students have been accomplished through private financing.
Discrimination against private institutions in Nigeria
There has been for some time certain discriminatory policies and practices against private tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
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