Senate Increases Federal Varsities To 64; Approves Two In Ogun, Kano

The Nigerian Senate has increased the number of federal universities in the country to 64 following the the passage of bills establishing two universities in Kano and Ogun states.

The senate,  on Tuesday, approved the bills to establish the University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, and the Federal University of Technology Ilaro in Ogun State.

The federal government had earlier in the year founded two new universities.

According to checks by the magazine, there are currently over 270 universities in Nigeria as of 2024,, 149 were private while state and federal universities added up to 63 and 62, respectively.

The Senate yesterday approved the two universities in Kano and Ogun states following the adoption of a report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on establishments of the university at plenary.

The report for the establishment of te university in Kano was presented by the Chairman, Senator Mohammed Muntari who while making his presentation said, the universities will provide more jobs in the country, reduce youth restiveness, as well as develop the nation’s technological sector.

He said the university proposed received overwhelming support from Nigerians during the public hearing conducted by the committee, noting that the institution would help provide scientific knowledge to environmental challenges in the country.

Muntari said, “The hallmark of the proposed Federal University of Applied Sciences, is to produce graduates well equipped with practical and theoretical grounded knowledge in technology, applied science, commerce and management.

“This will reduce risks and challenges of productivity, data and information, cost benefits, marketing and security bedeviling humanity.

“The establishment of the Federal University will reduce the ills around the national economy and de-escalate chances of entrenching heinous criminal activities being perpetrated by men of the underworld.

“The knowledge and skills that would be acquired by the graduates from the envisaged Act of the National Assembly will definitely go a long way in expanding and deepening the horizon of the graduates in information management,” the senator said.

Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU have lamented the proliferation of government owned universities in the country, citing the paucity of funds to run them effectively.

ASUU, for instance, argue that available funds should be used to fund existing universities instead of establishing new ones.