By Valentine Amanze (Online Editor)
On Tuesday, the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted a privately-owned university, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, license to begin operations.
The university, which was granted approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) early this month along with five others is owned by the former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, who was a renowned medical practitioner in Port Harcourt before he ventured into politics.
The institution is the first private medical science university in the country.
Odili submitted the relevant documents, including the academic brief, physical master plan and the University’s law, to the National Universities Commission, (NUC) for consideration in May.
The Federal Executive Council on December 6, in a meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, approved the establishment of six new private universities, including a Naval University in Delta.
The Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, said the approvals were a result of the memo submitted to FEC by the ministry.
He said the universities were Admiralty University in Ibusa, Delta State, owned by the Naval Holding Company, Spiritan University in Nneochi, Abia State and Precious Cornerstone University in Ibadan. Also approved were PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Atibe University in Oyo town, Oyo State and Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences, Lagos.
Adamu said more applications were received by the ministry which would later present them to the Council for approval. The minister said that FEC had directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to look into the quality of courses offered by new and existing universities in the country. According to him, government would withdraw the registration of any university that failed to meet the standard set for courses being offered.