Kano gets first private varsity as FG issues provisional license

THE Federal Government (FG) on Tuesday, issued a provisional license to the first private university in Kano State, Skyline University.

This is coming barely six months after it issued licenses to six private universities, which brings the total number of private universities in the country to 75.

While presenting the provisional license to the proprietor of the newly approved institution, Mr Kamal Puri in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu stressed that the development was an indication of the continued partnership between the government and private sector to provide quality university education in Nigeria.

The Minister, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Arch. Sunday Echono explained that the provisional license is intended to allow for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the University’s three years of operation.

Describing this as “probationary period”, he disclosed that the institution will be attached to the Bayero University, Kano for academic and administrative mentoring to be moderated by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

However, he stressed that substantive license will only be issued to the University of it is adjudged as well managed after its three years of probation.

“the mentor institution will be expected to guide and advise on the following: appointment of the governing council, recruitment of principal officers, academic and administrative staff. Availability of human and material resources for the commencement of any academic programme, implementation of carrying capacity among others.

“while government appreciates the courage of the proprietors to partner with it on a project of this nature, which is not expected to be for-profit particularly at the commencement, it will not tolerate any breach of the conditions of the approval. Any unwholesome practice or operation outside the provisions of NUC guidelines is unacceptable and will attract appropriate sanctions,” he warned.

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Earlier, the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abubakar Adamu stated that the Skyline University license has been under consideration since 2015 and had gone through stringent assessments which led to the final approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He said this brings the total number of Universities in Nigeria to 164 even as he noted that the sum was inadequate to meet the nation’s annual demand for access to university education.

“It is our belief that considering the increasing population of Nigeria and the fact that the future of university education in Nigeria, like the world over, rests on private initiatives, efforts must continue in the direction of establishing more universities for enhanced access.

“However, access must not be sacrificed on the altar of quality and that is why the NUC will keep beaming its searchlight on the governance of your private university to ensure adherence to best practices in support of quality university education,” he said.

Also, in his remarks, the foreign co-investor and founder/ proprietor of Skyline University, Kamal Puri assured that quality education will be the bedrock of the institution.

He said: “I can assure you that we understand the importance of quality education and we will bring the best technology and curriculum.”