The National Universities Commission, NUC has stated that out of the 1.5 million candidates that sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination yearly, only 400,000 gain admission to Nigerian universities.
The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie said this when the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole visited the commission on Wednesday in Abuja to collect the Certificate of Recognition for the new Edo State University, Iyanmo.
Okojie said “We know the number of candidates that sit for UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board every year.
“However, out of the 1.5 million candidates who take UTME every year, we are barely able to make provision for only about 400,000 students.”
Okojie said new universities were needed to boost access to higher education while making sure that quality was not compromised.
According to him, “I am always happy when a new university comes on board; what that means is that we are expanding and we are opening up access.
“The new university will, therefore, be accessible not only to candidates from Edo State but those from Ondo State and other states,” he added.
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