The Minister of Education in Nigeria, Prof. Tahir Mamman has on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 clarified that the Federal Government has no intentions of selling universities to private investors.
This statement was made during the Second Quarterly Engagement of the Ministry with heads of units and chief executive officers of parastatals and agencies under the ministry.
“There is no plan to sell off universities to investors,” Mamman asserted, addressing accusations from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the Federal Government’s alleged plans to hand over federal universities to investors through public-private partnerships.
Prof. Mamman emphasized that the government’s policy allows for transnational education, aiming to invite international investments into Nigeria’s tertiary education system. He stated, “Some people are carrying information that the Federal Government is selling off to private investors its universities. This is an absolute lie and completely false. This government believes in our public institutions. However, as we all know, this government has reforms that this country needs.”
He highlighted the significant role of the private sector in providing tertiary education, noting, “The private sector will play a major role in the provision of tertiary education, as there are more private universities in Nigeria than public universities combined.”
Prof. Mamman stressed the importance of opening up the tertiary education level for global competitiveness, stating, “What this government has done is to open up the tertiary education level, in particular the universities, for global competitiveness.” He pointed out that the policy is not about selling institutions but about fostering international collaboration and investment.
He encouraged the adoption of transnational education, noting its benefits as seen in other countries, particularly in Asia. “In other parts of the world, like Asia, they have benefited immensely from having international institutions in those countries. They have taken standards to those countries and also for the exchange and bringing money to those countries,” he said.
The engagement with heads of agencies and parastatals was aimed at reviewing progress, addressing challenges, and reaffirming commitment to the educational landscape of the country.
