NUC is a Blessing to Nigeria – Education Minister

NUC is a Blessing to Nigeria – Education Minister

The Minister of Education in Nigeria, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has declared that the National Universities Commission (NUC) is a blessing to the Nigerian Education System and the Country at large, in view of its outstanding performance in ensuring quality in the university education sub-sector.

He made the declaration during a familiarisation visit and tour of facilities at the NUC-NgREN Secretariat, on Tuesday, 28 October 2014, noting that the NgREN Project was a milestone in the NUS, as it was capable of placing Nigeria on the same pedestal as the top universities in the world.

The Minister commended the NUC for promoting quality research in the Nigerian university system, particularly for initiating the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), urging researchers to take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities provided at the NgREN.

He stated that the supervisory role of the Commission had continued to improve the quality of education in the system, thereby resulting in the increase of private universities in the country.

Mallam Shekarau noted that although Government was providing the policy direction for regulating universities in Nigeria, through the NUC, the task of ensuring quality university education was a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. He maintained that education was a top priority of the Federal Government in delivering on the Transformation Agenda.

He advised the Commission that even though funds may not be adequate, it should endeavour to strengthen the inspection component of its mandate in order to keep universities on their toes.