In a scathing response to the criticism surrounding the proliferation of universities in Nigeria, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, the immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), has labeled those who oppose the expansion as myopic. He made this assertion on Friday in Abuja during the official handover ceremony to his successor, Chris Maiyaki.
Advocating for an even greater increase in the number of universities across the country, Rasheed expressed his desire to see the figure rise to a staggering 4,000. According to him, the current number of universities in Nigeria is woefully inadequate to meet the education needs of Nigerians.
Addressing concerns about the lack of employment opportunities for recent graduates, the former NUC scribe dismissed these worries as unnecessary. In his view, education remains the most effective tool in combating poverty, and individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to secure gainful employment.
Rasheed further rebutted critics by pointing out that countries with smaller populations and fewer resources than Nigeria have a higher number of universities. This suggests that the need for additional institutions of higher learning in the country should not be underestimated.
