Federal Government’s 7-Year Ban On New Universities: Relief Or Missed Opportunity?

At last, some common sense has prevailed. The Federal Government has announced a seven-year moratorium on establishing new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The reasons are obvious: resources are overstretched, many institutions are under-enrolled, and the quality of education keeps deteriorating.

On the surface, this seems like a wise decision. But it also raises uncomfortable questions: why did successive governments, including the current one, keep creating new institutions in the first place? And is simply halting new schools enough to fix Nigeria’s broken higher education system?

The Politics of Proliferation

In just two years, the Tinubu administration created 12 new tertiary institutions—eight universities, two polytechnics, and two colleges of education. This, despite the fact that in 2023, the Education Ministry admitted it couldn’t even fund the take-off of 37 universities hastily approved by the Buhari administration.

Clearly, the proliferation of universities has less to do with education and more to do with political patronage. Where the government cannot create new states, it creates new schools instead — a shortcut to appeasing local demands, handing out contracts, and rewarding allies.

But the result is bloated payrolls, empty lecture halls, and overstretched infrastructure. As Education Minister Tunji Alausa revealed, some institutions have more staff than students. One northern university, he noted, has 1,200 staff serving fewer than 800 students. That is a financial and educational absurdity.

When Quantity Drowns Quality

The reality is that existing universities can barely survive, let alone accommodate more siblings.

Take the University of Ibadan, which last year reduced electricity supply on campus because it could not afford to run generators after the distribution company limited supply. This story repeats itself nationwide: underfunded laboratories, overcrowded classrooms, unpaid staff salaries, and decaying facilities.

Yet, governments keep announcing new universities as though they are opening supermarkets. This culture of proliferation prioritises prestige over performance, bureaucracy over scholarship, and politics over progress.

Private Universities: Prestige Over Purpose?

The problem is not limited to government-owned schools. The explosion of private universities has also worsened the situation.

For many wealthy individuals and organisations, owning a university has become a status symbol, not a mission to improve education. A worrying number of these schools cannot even articulate a clear vision on their websites. They function as little more than degree mills, churning out certificates with little regard for quality or relevance.

Instead of licensing more private universities, the government should encourage investors to strengthen primary and secondary education, where Nigeria still faces massive gaps in access and quality.

Skills, Not Degrees: The Youth Disconnect

Even more troubling is the fact that Nigerian youth are losing faith in formal education. Popular phrases like “education is a scam” and “skills, not degrees” are not just jokes—they reflect genuine disillusionment.

For many young people, degrees no longer guarantee jobs or social mobility. Instead, the internet has created new pathways to wealth: content creation, freelancing, and unfortunately, cybercrime.

By obsessively building more universities, the government is solving the wrong problem. What Nigeria truly needs is an ecosystem that connects education to employability—skills training, entrepreneurship support, and industries that can absorb graduates.

Fixing Under-Enrolment Through Smarter Admissions

Perhaps the most shocking statistic comes from JAMB data:

• 199 universities received fewer than 100 applications last year.

• 34 schools had zero applicants.

• Of 295 polytechnics, many had fewer than 99 applicants.

• 219 colleges of education posted poor figures—including 64 with no applications at all.

How can this be happening in a country where over two million students sit for UTME every year?

Part of the problem is the rigid admissions system. Students must pre-select schools when registering for UTME, and most overestimate their chances by choosing top universities. When their scores fall short, they either buy expensive “change of institution” forms or retake the exam, leaving lesser-known schools empty.

A better system would allow students to apply to multiple institutions after results are released, giving them realistic choices based on their scores. This simple reform could help redistribute students and ease under-enrolment.

Conclusion: Beyond Moratoriums

The Federal Government’s seven-year freeze on new tertiary institutions is a welcome move, but it is not enough. Nigeria must go beyond merely stopping the proliferation of universities and start addressing the root causes of the crisis:

• Underfunding and mismanagement of existing schools

• Politicisation of education as patronage

• Explosion of low-quality private universities

• Youth disillusionment with formal education

• Rigid admissions bottlenecks

Until these deeper issues are tackled, Nigeria will continue producing more schools but fewer solutions. Education should be about building rigorous intellect, moral character, and civic responsibility—not chasing political points or social prestige.

The truth is clear: Nigeria doesn’t need more universities. It needs better ones.

NECO Common Entrance 2025: 64,000 Candidates Battle For Unity School Slots Across West Africa

In a strong show of confidence in Nigeria’s federal education system, 64,000 pupils from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo sat for the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) — a key requirement for admission into Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as Unity Schools.

The examination, conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), took place across various centers on Saturday, marking yet another milestone in Nigeria’s push for accessible, standardized secondary education.

✅ Smooth Execution, Positive Reviews

After inspecting the exam at Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed satisfaction with the seamless conduct of the exercise.

“I’m very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active,” she said.

According to Prof. Ahmad, this year’s turnout—30,000 boys and 34,000 girls—demonstrates continued public trust in the unity school system and its role in national integration.

🌍 Beyond Borders: West African Reach

Interestingly, the exam wasn’t limited to Nigeria alone. Over 100 Nigerian students based in Benin Republic and Togo also participated, highlighting the reach and reputation of Nigeria’s educational structure in the region.

• Lagos State led the country with the highest number of candidates—15,000+ students.

• Togo recorded the fewest candidates, with just 17 students, according to NECO Registrar Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi.

“This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our unity colleges,” Prof. Wushishi noted.

👩🏽‍🦯 Inclusive Education in Practice

In a commendable move, NECO also ensured full participation for children with special needs. Braille exam materials and trained support personnel were made available, reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusive education.

“We made special accommodations for students with disabilities. Education must be accessible to every Nigerian child,” Wushishi emphasized.

📚 Admission Criteria and What Comes Next

While the excitement of the exam is now behind the candidates, the real race begins with admission selections. According to Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education:

• Merit will drive the primary selection.

• State quota will ensure fair geographic representation.

• Exigency will favor children of civil servants and students from challenging circumstances.

She stressed that the process would be “fair and inclusive.”

💬 Why This Matters

Unity Schools were created to promote national integration and cohesion by admitting students from all parts of the country into common learning environments. Despite various educational reforms and systemic challenges over the years, the relevance of these schools remains strong.

The high turnout and smooth exam process speak volumes about parents’ continued faith in these institutions. Moreover, the participation of students outside Nigeria reflects the regional value placed on Nigerian education, despite its hurdles.

🧭 Conclusion: A Vote of Confidence in Public Education

In a time when private education is often seen as the only path to quality learning, this year’s NCEE turnout sends a powerful message: Nigerians still believe in public education—especially when it’s structured, inclusive, and fairly administered.

As we await the release of the results and the subsequent admissions, one thing is clear: the dream of unity, fairness, and excellence in education is still alive.