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JUST IN: FG opposes N/Assembly’s proposals for 200 new varsities
The federal government has expressed opposition to the proposals by the National Assembly for creation of nearly 200 new universities in the country.
It said with almost 200 bills in the National Assembly for establishment of new universities, there is a growing concern that the system is becoming overwhelmed.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated this in Abuja yesterday during the third edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing.
The country currently has 278 universities, 64 of which are federal; 67, state; and 147, private.
The government had, last month, announced a one-year moratorium on the establishment of new private universities “to enhance the quality and sustainability of private universities, ensuring that only institutions with the necessary financial and academic capacity are granted licenses.”
The minister yesterday emphasised that strengthening the capacities of the existing universities is more important than establishing new ones.
He said: “They (lawmakers) are passing a lot of bills. Today, I can tell you that there are almost 200 bills in the National Assembly. We can’t continue like this.
Even though we have a lot of them, the capacity for a university to admit is not there. What we need to do now is to rebuild the capacities so that we can offer more viable courses to our citizens.
“We need to stop this (the 200 bills for new universities) from happening. There is so much pressure on the president. We have to, at least, be sensitive to it as well.
“I understand the sentiment of our legislators. They want to show that they are working. We know they are working. But then, we have enough assets, we have enough opportunities out there for students to go to universities.
“What we now need to do is to begin to mobilise more resources to develop infrastructures, build engineering workshops, build laboratories in these universities, recruit international standard teachers, so that we can begin to get these universities to develop, to deliver high quality of education that will be known for as a country.
“Today, if you care to know, we have 64 federal universities, 67 state universities and 147 private universities.
If you look at the entire enrolment together, the private universities account for just 7.5% of total undergraduate enrolment.
I will tell you the meaning of the number. The total number of undergraduate enrolments today is just about 875,000, which is, at least, fairly low.
“We have universities with less than 1,000 undergraduate students, and there is this intense demand for more universities to be opened. We have to stop that.”
however, it is not only the legislators that are obsessed with pushing for the establishing of universities as constituency project or for status symbol.
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BREAKING: Prominent Islamic Scholar, Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, dies at 102
Prominent Islamic scholar in Bauchi, Sheikh Dahiru Usman-Bauchi, is dead. He died at the age of 102.
Until his death, he was one of the world leaders of the Tijjaniyya Islamic sect.
The renowned Islamic cleric died early hours of Thursday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.
Announcing the death, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the late Sheikh, his followers, students, and the entire Muslim Ummah across Nigeria and beyond.
In a statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, the Governor described him as a towering figure in Islamic scholarship as well as a man of deep faith, humility, and wisdom.
He said: “Innalillahi wa inna Ilaihi Rajiun. It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that the Bauchi State Government announces the death of renowned and revered Islamic scholar, teacher, and spiritual leader, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who returned to his Creator in the early hours of today, Thursday, 27th November, 2025, at the age of 102 in Bauchi.”
Governor Mohammed said his lifetime was devoted to the propagation of Islam, the teaching of the Holy Qur’an, and the moral and spiritual upliftment of humanity.
“Through his numerous schools and learning centres, he nurtured thousands of students who went on to memorise the Qur’an and spread Islamic knowledge across the African continent,” he stated.
He said that the late Sheikh’s immense contributions to theology, Islamic jurisprudence, and history have left an indelible mark on the intellectual and spiritual landscape of our society.
The Governor added that: “As we mourn this monumental loss, we take solace in the fact that Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi lived a life fully dedicated to the service of Allah, humanity, and knowledge. His legacy will continue to illuminate the path of generations to come.
“The Government of Bauchi State will continue to honor his memory by supporting the institutions and ideals he stood for , particularly in the areas of Islamic education, moral discipline, and community development.
“We pray that Almighty Allah, will forgive his shortcomings, grants him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family, followers, and the entire Ummah the fortitude to bear this great loss,” he stated
BREAKING: Prominent Islamic Scholar, Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, dies at 102
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Sylva Seeks Audience With EFCC
He said that he was deeply surprised and profoundly unsettled to learn through a public announcement that he had been declared wanted despite his well-known disposition towards cooperation with lawful authorities.
Chief Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum, has written to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) asking the commission to give him a date for his appearance.
The former Governor of Bayelsa State in a letter he personally signed and addressed to the Chairman of the commission particularly frowned at the move by the EFCC to declare him wanted over an alleged $14.8million fraud.
Sylva in the letter dated November 24th but was received and acknowledged by the EFCC on November 26th and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, however, informed the commission that he was currently receiving an urgent medical care for a life-threatening condition.
He said that he was deeply surprised and profoundly unsettled to learn through a public announcement that he had been declared wanted despite his well-known disposition towards cooperation with lawful authorities.
The letter reads:”In view of the foregoing, I most humbly request that a mutually agreed date be set subject to medical clearance to enable me appear physically and formally.
News
Tinubu nominates ambassadors for U.S, UK, France
The nominees are Kayode Are of Ogun state, Aminu Dalhatu of Jigawa state, and Ayodele Oke of Oyo state.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday nominated three non-career ambassadors to the United States of America, UK, and France, and urges the Senate to confirm the appointments .
The nominees are Kayode Are of Ogun state, Aminu Dalhatu of Jigawa state, and Ayodele Oke of Oyo state.
Tinubu made the request in a letter addressed to the Senate and read on Wednesday, November 26 by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said: that the postings will be finalised following Senate screenings.
“Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu previously served as Nigeria’s ambassador to South Korea during President Buhari’s administration, having been first appointed in 2016.“
Ambassador Ayodele Oke, an alumnus of Emory University in Atlanta, is a former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and previously served as Nigeria’s ambassador to the Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Nations in London.
“Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are was Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) from 1999 to 2007, served as National Security Adviser in 2010, and was an officer in the Directorate of Military Intelligence.
He graduated with First Class Honours in Psychology from the University of Ibadan in 1980.”
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