Prof. Oloyede emphasized that seeking regularisation is illegal and cautioned against admitting underaged students.

JAMB regularisation is a process to validate and formalise the admission of students who were admitted into tertiary institutions without proper documentation or through informal means.

This practice, according to Oloyede, has deprived many candidates of the opportunity to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at the opening of the seventh biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria, themed ‘Effective University Governance: Role of Stakeholders,’ Oloyede called for an end to these practices to protect accountability, data integrity, and the nation’s educational system.

“I want to discuss what I call illegal admission. Many Vice-Chancellors don’t like the word, but the truth is that there is no need to regularise what is regular. Calling for regularisation after admission is illegal. Some candidates can’t go for NYSC because they were not properly admitted,” he stated.

He also highlighted issues with admitting underaged students and diploma candidates through illegal means.

Oloyede shared an example of a 15-year-old student from a European country who applied for a postgraduate program, questioning the possibility of such occurrences in Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had earlier indicated in April that the Federal Government was considering adopting 18 years as the minimum age for university and other tertiary institution admissions.

Speaking at the 17th convocation ceremony of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Tinubu, represented by Mrs Rakiya Iliyasu, the Director of Tertiary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, addressed the university community as its visitor.

The President said: “We are aware of the challenges facing higher education in Nigeria, and we are addressing it strategically and holistically.

“Efforts are being made to address the infrastructure and human capital deficiencies through TETfund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund).

“It is the desire of this government that industrial action would be a thing of the past. This government is doing everything possible for a better relationship between the unions and government, which can stop such industrial actions.

“University education is capital intensive and government alone cannot take care of it, but all stakeholders must put their hands on deck in this regard. I’m happy with TETfund intervention in the university and I urge the university to take ownership of it and also ensure they serve their purpose.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Charles Esimone, stated that the university graduated 6,000 first degree students, 3,300 post graduate diploma students, 807 Masters degree students and 600 doctorate degree students.

Three eminent Nigerians were also awarded honourary doctorate degrees. They include: Abdul-Samad Rabiu, Ikenna Okafor and Okey Anueyiagu.

Rep. Abubakar Fulata, the Chairman of the Committee, made this known at a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC) and Vice-Chancellors of federal universities in Abuja on Tuesday.

“This kind of meeting is necessary considering the fact that it is a new government, new assembly, new committee, and new committee’s leadership,” he said.

He said the House leadership had created six committees out of the previous two for quality oversight.
Fulata said that the committee was working toward ensuring quality, reliability, easy access, and a rewarding university education.

“It is unfortunate that university education today is facing serious challenges spanning strike actions, cultism, insecurity, drug pedalling, and immoral acts,’’ he said.

He said the challenges required collective efforts to address them, including the intervention of the committee and the contributions of all well-meaning Nigerians.

In his response, the acting Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Chris Maiyaki, said that Nigerian universities were faced with lots of challenges.

He expressed confidence that, with the commitment of National Assembly, some of the problems would be addressed.

Prof Folasade Ogunsola, who spoke on behalf of the Vice-Chancellors, said that Nigerian universities had the potential to emerge as the best in Africa.

However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other experts have cautioned against the government’s move to establish new institutions without adequate funding for existing ones.

Despite the existing 52 federal universities in Nigeria, with a total of 63 public universities and 147 private institutions, the government has proposed further expansion.

The National Board for Technical Education reports 40 federal polytechnics, 49 state-owned polytechnics, and 76 private polytechnics.

Additionally, there are 70 federal and state-owned colleges of health, along with 17 private colleges of health. The National Commission for Colleges of Education estimates that there are 219 colleges of education in the country.

Analysis of the bills reveals that the Speaker of the House led the initiative, proposing the establishment of the Federal University of Technology in Kaduna.

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, advocated for the development of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Bende, Abia State.

Other bills suggest the creation of institutions such as the Federal University of Information and Communications Technology in Lagos Island, Federal University of Agriculture in Ute Okpa, Delta State, and the Federal University of Biomedical Sciences in Benue State.

Further proposals include the establishment of the Federal College of Health Sciences in Gaya, Federal College of Dental Technology in Faggae, Federal College of Agriculture in Agila, Benue State, Federal College of Education in Dangi-Kanam, Plateau State, and the Federal College of Education in Bende, Abia State.

Additionally, bills have been presented for the Benjamin Kalu Federal Polytechnic in Rano, Kano State, and the Federal Polytechnic in Shendam, Plateau State, among others.

The decision aligns with the government’s belief that granting autonomy to universities allows them to evolve independently.

During the University of Benin’s 48th convocation event over the weekend, President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engineer Abubakar Momoh, expressed confidence in this proposed strategy.

He emphasized that university autonomy would shift the responsibility for performance directly to individual institutions, addressing the existing uncertainties.

In his address, the President acknowledged concerns among university staff about unpaid salaries and announced a four-month wage payment to alleviate the issue.

Furthermore, Tinubu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing university conditions by providing essential facilities such as lecture theatres, student hostels, administrative offices, and learning tools through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

These facilities aim to motivate both staff and students toward achieving success.

Tinubu assured, “As a responsible government, we would continue to dedicate tangible resources to education and to formulate sustainable policies that would outlive this administration.

“Our universities have the multiple responsibilities of helping to expand horizons through research and technological breakthroughs, impartation of relevant skills and by being more entrepreneurial in outlook.”

Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu at the grand finale of the Combined 37th and 38th Convocation of the University of Ilorin, Tinubu emphasized that a strategic blend of public and private financing could provide the necessary resources to enhance higher education in the country.

He called on corporate entities, communities, and individuals to support universities, highlighting the global practice of public universities benefiting from government funding while supplementing their income through private financing.

Tinubu cited the recently enacted Student Loan Law, designed to transform the education landscape in Nigeria, as one example of progress.

Endowments, tuition fees, and public-private financing, he noted, are approaches that are embraced worldwide.

With the right mix of these financial resources, Nigerian universities can acquire the much-needed support to elevate the standard of university education in the nation.

The government, he assured, would remain committed to advancing the cause of impactful education by ensuring both educators and students have access to top-notch facilities to nurture their individual capabilities.

President Tinubu also addressed the removal of the petroleum subsidy, acknowledging the economic challenges it had presented to many Nigerians.

He clarified that this decision was made with the intention of creating a more sustainable and efficient energy landscape for the country, despite the short-term difficulties.

The subsidy removal, he added, could pave the way for investments in alternative energy sources, infrastructure, and public services, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.

He called for unity, innovation, and energy conservation during this transition period, underscoring the importance of embracing change and working collectively toward a brighter future for the nation.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole SAN, commended the President’s commitment to transforming tertiary education in Nigeria.

He expressed hope that outstanding issues would be resolved to bolster commitment and productivity in the educational system and achieve the repositioning agenda.

Professor Egbewole emphasized the critical need to elevate the status of university education to make Nigeria a global player.

This resolution followed a motion moved by Aliyu Madaki during Tuesday’s session.

Madaki highlighted that despite the deteriorating economic situation and rising poverty levels in the country, some universities have raised tuition fees by up to 200%.

Additionally, hostel fees have been increased by 50% to 100%. The universities implementing these fee hikes include Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Uyo, the University of Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and Federal University, Dutse, among others.

Madaki emphasized that these fee hikes are occurring amidst increasing poverty rates, inflation, high unemployment rates, and the recent fuel price increase.

In response, the House urged the National Universities Commission to immediately halt the implementation of the fee hikes at federal universities.

Furthermore, the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services, once constituted, has been mandated to investigate the fee increases across federal universities in the country.

The committee will aim to identify lasting solutions to the challenges facing the tertiary education sector.

This call by the House of Representatives seeks to address the concerns raised by the exorbitant fee hikes in federal universities.

By urging the suspension of these increases, the House aims to alleviate the financial burden on students and ensure equitable access to quality education in the face of economic challenges.

He gave the promise during a meeting with the vice-chancellors of federal universities.

Before providing staff members’ names to the commission to assist with the elections, the INEC chief instructed the vice-chancellors to do a thorough background check to avoid hiring individuals who are associated with political parties or have a history of partisanship.

The Commission also declared that it would launch its own probe into names submitted by the universities for the election.

Professor Yakubu allayed the fears of some of the vice-chancellors over insecurity while assuring that comprehensive security plans have been mapped out for the safety of all staff, media, youth corps members, and everyone who comes out to vote.

According to him, the number of registered voters (over 93 million) for the 2023 polls is larger than registered voters in Africa.

The government explained that with this approval, the new universities would be mentored by federal universities close to their locations to provide recruitment of principal officers, academic, and administrative staff, availability of human and material resources for the commencement of any academic programme, among others.

The government said that the country does not have enough universities to accommodate the teeming population of youths desirous for university education.

The Government also said that its relevant ministries and agencies were interfacing with the striking unions like the Academic Staff Union of Univerdities, ASUU; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, to ensure that the strikes were called off.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on behalf of the Minister of Education, while speaking to newsmen at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the Minister, some of the new private universities are specialised ones.

He said that the approval was given by the council following a memorandum presented by the Ministry of Education on behalf of the National Universities Commission, NUC.

The proposed private universities are PEN Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State, to be mentored by Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology, Yola; Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno State, to be mentored by University of Maiduguri;

Margaret Lawrence University, Calilee, Delta State, to be mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State; Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State, to be mentored by Bayero University Kano, Kano State.

Others are, Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State, to be mentored by University of Benin, Edo State; Baba Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State, Bayero University Kano; SAISA University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Usmanu Danfodio Sokoto, and Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State, to be mentored by University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Also given approval are the Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State, to be mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Newgate University, Minna, Niger State, Federal University Minna, Niger State;

European University of Nigerian, Duboyi, Abuja, FCT, to be mentored by University of Abuja, FCT, and Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, to be mentored by Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.