JAMB Laments Over Private Universities Poor Performance

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Monday , lamented that the existence of private universities in Nigeria have  continuously created more problem to the sector  rather than eliminate the challenges.

Speaking at a two-day National Summit on Private Universities with the theme “Private University Education Delivery in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities” which commenced  in Abuja,on Monday, Registrar of JAMB ,Professor Ishaq Oloyede,    said some private universities have performed below expectations.

He called on owners of private universities to look beyond profit making as they cannot depend on the university until it grows.

“We complained about our public institutions that they have challenges; we thought private institutions will come through to help; we must tell ourselves the truth; they have come to complicate matters  rather than eliminate those challenges we have with public institutions,” he said.

He explained that in as much as there are first class private universities, that so many have brought corruption tendency into private universities system.

On his part, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, noted that the private universities are faced with numerous challenges of inadequate funding, proprietor influence, staffing and students’ admission quota among others.

Adamu who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, stressed the need for owners of private universities to do more to attract best brains in the world to get employment in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He called on private operators to as well admit foreign students in boosting their profile.

Also speaking ,the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Rasheed, expressed dissatisfaction on inflation of unhealthy parallel grades by private universities.