By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
King David University of Medical Science (KDUMC), Uburu, Ebonyi State has been approved by the National University Commission (NUC), bringing to 198 the total number of universities in Nigeria.
The NUC had in March approved the upgrading of three institutions in Delta State to university level, which increased the number to 197 countrywide, out of which Delta has 11, making it the state with the highest number of universities.
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi announced two weeks ago that academic activities would commence at KDUMS in September 2021.
A statement issued in Abakaliki by Information and Orientation Commissioner, Uchenna Orji, said NUC Executive Secretary, Abubakar Rasheed, gave the approval in Abuja.
KDUMS is “designed as an ultra-modern 21st century state-of-the-art international medical university,” Orji said.
“The university’s central goal is for specialised manpower development in the most conducive environment in all aspects of medical specialties with the highest form of professionalism, ethics and excellence.
“The university is established with the vision and mission that are consistent with the Nigerian National Health Policy (NHP and strategy which is targeted at achieving health for all Nigerians.
“The university is programmed to provide the manpower needs to address the challenge of human resources for health in line with new global realities and trends that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and emerging health issues, particularly with respect to global health challenges (eg., COVID-19 pandemic).
“The vision of the university is to achieve the highest form of quality manpower development for healthcare and other service delivery for all persons irrespective of gender, race, religion, and socio-economic status.”
Delta has highest number of universities
Rasheed announced the approval of the upgrading of three institutions to university level in Delta when he hosted Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Abuja on March 26.
Okowa led his top officials to present documents of the new universities at NUC headquarters a month after the House of Assembly passed the bill for their upgrade, according to NAN, quoted by Daily Post.
They are
· Delta State University, Agbor
· Denis Osadebe University, Asaba
· Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro
With Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka added, the state now owns four universities, the highest by any state in Nigeria.
It has two federal universities:
· Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko
· Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
It has five private universities:
· Novena University, Ogume
· Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbara-Otor
· Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa
· Western Delta University, Oghara
· Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo
In total, Delta with a population of 5.6 million now has 11 federal, state, and private universities, the highest number in any state. Oyo state comes second with 10.
Rasheed presented the letter of recognition of the three upgraded institutions to Okowa and urged him to provide them with sustainable financial resources.
Rasheed confirmed at that meeting in March that the number of universities in Nigeria had risen to 197 – public universities 98, private 99.
Only 5% of students attend private universities
Rasheed said there are 2.1 million students in Nigerian universities “and only five per cent are accounted for in the 99 private universities.”
He gave an assurance that the NUC would continue to work with Delta to ensure its universities perform well.
Increase in demand for degree programmes in Delta
Okowa explained that increase in demand for degree programmes necessitated upgrading the institutions, as DELSU had overstretched its capacity while there is a need for universities to broaden the knowledge of students.
He said the rise in demand was first noticed in 2007 at the College of Education, Agbor after the NUC approved its affiliation with DELSU.
According to him, most of the resources of the College of Education are used to cater for more than 50 per cent of its students who enroll for degree programmes, to the detriment of National Certificate of Education (NCE) programme.
He said under-utilisation of resources in Delta State Polytechnic necessitated its upgrade to University of Science and Technology.
“For the 2019/2020 academic session, 25,896 candidates chose Delta State University, Abraka, and out of this number, 22,358 qualified but only 4,854 – just about 20 per cent – were admitted.”
Okowa expressed regret that those unable to secure admission due to limited space in public institutions are forced to attend expensive unaccredited private ones.
