Certificate Racketeering: FG sets up panel to investigate 107 private, foreign universities
By Agency Report
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Education has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the activities of 107 private and foreign universities operating in the country.
The investigation became necessary following reported cases of certificate racketeering, management structure deficit, lack of adequate facilities, inadequate funding of programmes, among others by private and foreign universities.
The issue of degree mills, once again came to the centre of discussions in Nigeria, following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian reporter, Umar Audu.
In the report, Audu revealed how he obtained a degree within six weeks and even proceeded to embark on mandatory youth service under the National Youth Service Corps scheme (NYSC).
Members of the panel include the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; the Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar among others.
One of the committee’s terms of reference stated that private universities established in the last 15 years be investigated.
“Without prejudice to the periodic accreditation exercise of the NUC, examine whether or not private universities established in the last 15 years have in the place prescribed facilities, appropriate management structure, adequate funding of programmes, requisite staff (nature of staff-full time, contract, adjunct, visiting, other types),” the term of reference read.
Already, Nigeria has a total of 147 private universities as listed on the website of the NUC.
The Punch reports that analysis of the dates of establishments revealed that 107 private universities were established in the last 15 years.
In this piece, PUNCH online highlights the private universities established in the last 15 years that may fall under the searchlight of the FG’s investigative panel.
They are;
- Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
- Baze University, FCT Abuja
- Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State
- Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State
- McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State
- Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
- Southwestern University, Oku Owa, Ogun State
- Evangel University, Ebonyi State
- Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
- Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State
- Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State
- Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State
- Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State
- Kings University Ode-Omu, Osun State
- Michael & Cecilia Ibru University, Owhode, Delta State
- Mountain Top University, Makogi/Oba, Ogun State
- Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwalbom State
- Summit University, Offa, Kwara State
- Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State
- Hezekiah University, Umudi, Imo State
- Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State
- Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
- Clifford University, Abia State
- Coal City University, Enugu state
- Ojaja University, Ilorin, Kwara state
- Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State
- Kola Daisi University., Ibadan, Oyo State
- Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State
- Spiritan University, Neochi, Abia State
- Precious Cornerstone, Ibadan, Oyo State
- PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
- Atiba University, Oyo, Oyo State
- Eko University of Medical Sciences, Ijanikin, Lagos
- Skyline University, Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
- Greenfield University, Kasarami-Kaduna, Kaduna State
- Dominion University, Ibadan, Oyo State
- Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State
- Westland University, Iwo, Osun State
- Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State
- Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State
- Maranatha University, Lekki, Lagos State
- Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
43.AL-Istigama University, Sumaila, Kano State
- Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State
- Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State
- Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State
- Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State
- Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State
- James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos state
- Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
- Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
- Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State
- University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State
- Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
- Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State
- Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
- Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State
- ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State
- Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State
60.Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno
- Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State
- Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State
- Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State
- Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State
- Salsa University Of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Sokoto State
- Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State
- Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State
- Newgate University, Minna, Niger State
- European University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
- Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
- Rayhaan University, Kebbi State
- Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Kwara State
- Sam Maris University, Supare, Ondo State
- Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
- Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State
- Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State
- Peaceland University, Enugu, Enugu State
- Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State
- Vision University, Ikogbo, Ogun State
- Azman University, Kano, Kano State
- Huda University, Gusau, Zamfara State
- Franco British International University, Kaduna, Kaduna State
- Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
- Miva Open University, Abuja, FCT
- Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-ljebu, Ogun State
- British Canadian University, Obudu, Cross River State
- Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State
88.Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State
- Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State
- Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State
- University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State
- Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano Kano State
- Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State
94 Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra State
- Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State
- Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State
97.Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, FCT
- Iconic Open University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
- West Midland Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State
- Amaj University, Abuja, FCT
- Prime University, Abuja, FCT
- El-Amin University, Niger State
- College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Kaduna State
- Jewel University, Gombe, Gombe State
- Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa, Lagos State
- Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, FCT
- Al-Bayan University, Kogi state
Additional report by Punch