Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has urged lawmakers to stop the excessive establishment of new universities, warning that the education system is under increasing pressure.
Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, Alausa said the focus should be on improving existing institutions rather than creating new ones.
“We must prioritise improving our institutions instead of constantly advocating for new universities. The National Assembly is passing a significant number of bills almost 200 at the moment and this trend cannot continue,” he said.
He stated that despite the increase in universities, student enrollment remains low.
“Private Universities, which make up just one per cent of all institutions, account for only 7.5% of total undergraduate enrollment.
“Currently, undergraduate enrollment stands at approximately 875,000, which is relatively low. Some universities have fewer than 1,000 undergraduate students, yet there is a persistent push to establish more institutions, he said.
The minister also called for a reduction in non-technical courses in specialised universities, saying such programmes should be available in conventional institutions.
Alausa reassured Nigerians that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would continue indefinitely to support infrastructure development.
“What we now need to do is to begin to open up more resources to develop infrastructure, build engineering workshops and build laboratories in these universities,” he said.
On vocational training, the minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved ₦120 billion for technical education, ensuring students receive hands-on training to meet industry demands.
He also announced a six-month free skills training programme aimed at filling two million job vacancies in digital fields like cybersecurity, AI, and software development.
The minister emphasised that Nigeria’s education reforms would prioritise quality over quantity, ensuring students receive relevant training for future careers.
