FEC approves establishment of 20 private universities, N35b for NEPZA power station

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of additional 20 private universities across the country.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, revealed this while briefing the State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Adamu, the approved universities will get their provisional licences from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which they will use for the next three years while monitoring and evaluation will go on.

The approved universities are:

1. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom,
2. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara,
3. Maranathan University, Mgbidi, Imo,
4. Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
5. Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State
6. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo,
7. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River,
8. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo ,
9. NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State
10. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau
11. James Hope University, Lagos, Lagos State
12. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
13. Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
14. Ahman Pategi University, Pategi, Kwara
15. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara, also got provisional approval
16. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
17. Edusoko University, Bida, Niger
18. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
19. Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa
20. Anan University, Kwall, Plateau

Nine of the private universities are located in North Central, three in South South, two in South East, five in the North West and one in South West.

With the approval of additional 20 universities, Nigeria now has 99 private universities.

Meanwhile, the FEC has has approved the sum of N35 billion for the building of power stations by the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), in the processing zones in Calabar and Kano.

According to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the contract awarded to Messers Mutual Commitment Nigeria Limited, would be jointly funded by the government and the company that won the award in 25 per cent to 75 per cent plan.

According to him, the contract sum is N35,411,119,159.47 and the contractor will finance 75 per cent of the project, which is in the sum of N26,558,339,337.10 while the NEPZA would finance 25 per cent which translates to N8,852,779,792.37.

He said council approved a payback period of 10 years of the contractor’s portion.

Adebayo said on completion after 11 months, the plant will be operated by the contractor for five years during which they will build local capacity that will take over the running of the plant.

“The whole intention of the upgrade of the two zones is to create zones with world class standards. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is desirous of making Nigeria a manufacturing hub, especially now that we have signed on to the Africa Continental free Trade Area (AFCTA) Agreement.

“So, by putting 24-hour power in the two processing zones, it will make it more attractive to foreign investors to come and set up manufacturing concerns here in Nigeria,” he explained.