President Tinubu Approves Launch of 6 New Universities

President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for the commencement of academic activities in six out of the 14 newly established universities, a decision that comes on the heels of their approval during the closing days of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, following a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Professor Mamman outlined the initial phase of this ambitious educational venture. It entails the inauguration of two universities specializing in agriculture, two dedicated to colleges of education, and another two focused on the field of medicine.

Explaining the rationale behind this selective approach, Professor Mamman emphasized the substantial financial burden associated with launching a dozen or more tertiary institutions simultaneously. Such an endeavor requires significant capital for infrastructure, staff recruitment, and various other essentials.

The minister further clarified that the government would carefully reconsider the possibility of proceeding with the remaining institutions in the future. He highlighted that these universities were strategically aligned with the core mandates and priorities of President Tinubu’s administration.

In his words, “Ordinarily, we would have said we’ll review whether we should go ahead with that, but most of them are specialized institutions.”

This decision marks a critical step in shaping the landscape of higher education in Nigeria, with a focus on specialized fields and key national priorities under the leadership of President Tinubu.