Why Nigeria Don’t Need More Universities – JAMB Registrar

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has stated that Nigeria does not need more universities.

Instead, he emphasised the need to expand existing institutions to accommodate more students and improve the quality of education.

Speaking during an interview with Channels TV on Sunday, Professor Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), addressed the ongoing debate about establishing new universities in the country.

He argued that expanding the capacities of current universities would be more effective than creating new ones.

Expansion Over New Institutions Professor Oloyede explained that many existing universities, especially federal institutions, have the potential to admit more students if their facilities are upgraded.

For instance, he cited the University of Ibadan, which currently admits about 200 students for medicine.

With improved infrastructure, the university could take in 600 to 800 students, significantly reducing the admission gap.

He noted that establishing new universities might seem like a quick solution, but it often takes years for these institutions to reach their full capacity.

“If you establish 10 universities today, even if you call them specialised colleges like the one in Otupko, they will only admit about 200 students after 10 years,” he said.

In contrast, expanding existing universities could yield immediate results, accommodating the number of students that two or three new institutions would take.