Private universities complicating matters – JAMB

The Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Monday said private universities have continue “to complicate matters rather than eliminate those challenges we have with public institutions” in the country.

Prof Oloyede disclosed this at a two-day National Summit on Private Universities with the theme “Private University Education Delivery in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities” which commenced today in Abuja.

He said some private universities have fallen short of expectation.

“We complained about our public institutions that they have challenges; we thought private institutions will come through to help; we must tell ourselves the truth; they have come to complicate matters  rather than eliminate those challenges we have with public institutions,” he said.

He explained that in as much as there are first class private universities, that so many have brought corruption tendency into private universities system.

He urged them to look beyond profit making as they cannot depend on the university until it grows.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Rasheed, expressed dissatisfaction on inflation of unhealthy parallel grades by private universities.

He noted that in spite of the challenges they have done well in assisting government in providing university education.

The minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, stated that the private universities are faced with numerous challenges of inadequate funding, proprietor influence, staffing and students’ admission quota among others.

He said there is need to do more to attract best brains in the world to come and teach in Nigerian varsities as well as foreign students as well.