Date: 2015-02-26

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the establishment of nine new private universities across the nation.

The council gave the approval at its meeting presided over by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo as President Goodluck Jonathan was in Sokoto for the 90th birthday of former President Shehu Shagari.

The Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, announced the approval while briefing State House journalists after the FEC meeting.

The new universities are Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State; Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State; Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State; Hallmark University, Ijebu Itele, Ogun State and Kings University, Ode Omu, Osun State; Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Orode, Delta State; Mountain Top University, Ogun State; Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State; and Summit University, Offa, Kwara State.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who also briefed journalists, said the Federal Government was helpless on the exorbitant fees being charged by many private universities in the country.

Shekarau was responding to a question on what the government was doing about private universities charging exorbitant fees beyond the reach of average Nigerian students.

He explained that just like private hospitals or nursery schools, proprietors of private universities are free to charge fees that will give returns to their investments.