FG Approves 9 New Private Varsities As NANS Backs President’s Re-election

The federal government yesterday
approved the establishment on nine new
private universities in the country.
They are Augustine University, Ilara,
Lagos State; Chrisland University, Owode,
Ogun State; Christopher University,
Mowe, Ogun State; Hallmark University,
Ijebu Itele, Ogun State; Kings University,
Ode Omu, Osun State; Michael and
Cecilia Ibru University, Orode, Delta
State; Mountain Top University, Ogun
State, Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene,
Akwa Ibom State and Summit University,
Offa, Kwara State.
This is coming just as the minister of
education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has
stated the federal government’s
helplessness over the decision by some
private universities to charge exorbitant
fees that are beyond the reach of
average Nigerian students.
He stated this while briefing journalists
after the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
meeting alongside the ministers of
Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka; Finance
(state), Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and
Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe.
Shekarau noted that, like private
hospitals or nursery schools, owners of
private universities were at liberty to
charge fees that would give return on
investment, adding that government’s
only worry was to ensure that the
schools are of standard in terms of
facilities and staffing, among others.
Observing that the saving grace was that
all federal government-owned universities
are tuition-free, he said, “Whatever the
federal universities are charging are so
minimal for some day-to-day activities:
games fees, union fees and some other
fees, basically, no university owned by
government is charging tuition fee.”
NANS Backs Jonathan
Re-election
The National Association of Nigerian
Students [NANS] yesterday officially
endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan
as their preferred candidate for the
presidential election contest.
NANS national president, Comrade Tijani
Shehu Usman, stated the union’s position
at a one-day National Students’
Association rally held in Abuja.
Usman said that the student union body
arrived at this conclusion when it noted
that President Jonathan’s government
has touch more on the lives of the
students and youths in all its
ramifications.
‘’We are gladly supporting Jonathan
because he is the first president ever to
have released about N200 billion at a one
fell swoop to the Academic Staff Union
Universities [ASUU] for the overall
uplifting and development of the
universities.
“He similarly established no fewer than
24 new federal universities across the
country. He has also set up 124 Almajiri
schools for our brothers in the northern
part of Nigeria.
“He has also put in place several youth
employment programmes such as the
YOUWIN, SURE-P, GIS – all in a bid to
create jobs for the teeming unemployed
youths,’’ he said.
The NANS president also revealed that
the student union body was already
mobilizing its teeming student supporters,
numbering four million, to formalise this
position at a rally to be held at the Eagle
Square, Abuja, next week.
He called on Nigerian students
nationwide to ensure they collect their
Permanent Votes Cards (PVCs), to
enable them vote massively for President
Jonathan at the 2015 polls.
…Confers matron certificate on Obua
Meanwhile, NANS used the occasion to
confer its matron certificate award on Dr
Merit Gordon Obua for her motherly role
and support for its activities.
In her response, Dr Obua, while
appreciating the gesture, called on
students to shun violence during and
after the elections, and to protect their
votes, as their votes will determine their
future.

Posted by : Michael Ajah

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Thursday, 26 February 2015

FG Approves 9 New Private Varsities As NANS Backs President’s Re-election

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