The National Universities Commission has said only 400,000 out of the 1.5 million candidates that sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination yearly gain admission to Nigerian universities, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, said this when Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole visited the commission on Wednesday in Abuja.
Oshiomhole was at NUC to collect the Certificate of Recognition for the new Edo State University, Iyanmo.
Okojie said new universities were needed to boost access to higher education while making sure that quality was not compromised.
He said, “I am always happy when a new university comes on board; what that means is that we are expanding and we are opening up access.
“We know the number of candidates that sit for UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board every year.
“However, out of the 1.5 million candidates who take UTME every year, we are barely able to make provision for only about 400,000 students.
“The new university will, therefore, be accessible not only to candidates from Edo State but those from Ondo State and other states.”
According to the executive secretary, the Edo State University, has become the 41st state university and the 142nd university in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole said for sound university education, there was a need to produce sound secondary school graduates who would be able to face the rigours of university education.
He said, “We have structures that are strong and well designed; we are building more faculties.
“We are building more standard hostels; students will behave based on the influence of the environment.
“So, it is my hope that we will make the right level of investment and the university will charge fees that will enable it to access revenue for sustained development without depending much on the state government.”
PUNCH NG
