The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has stated that Nigeria does not need more universities.
Oloyede, who spoke during a media appearance on Channels TV yesterday further emphasised the importance of expanding the capacity of existing institutions.
He argued that rather than establishing new universities, the government should focus on improving infrastructure and increasing student intake in the current ones.
“It’s not just about adding more universities. Those advocating for it have their reasons, but their analysis is quite simplistic.
“If we expand the capacity of our existing universities, especially at the federal level, they can accommodate more students and perform better,” he said.
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He cited the University of Ibadan as an example, explaining that while its medical faculty currently admits about 200 students, improved facilities could enable it to take in 600 or even 800 students.
“Setting up 10 new universities, even if they are specialized, may not solve the problem immediately. A new institution may only be able to admit 200 students after a decade, whereas expanding an existing university could accommodate what two or three new ones would take in,” he explained.
Oloyede also acknowledged the political motivations behind the establishment of new universities.
“Universities have become symbols of government goodwill in communities, especially since there are no factories or industries to show development. But in reality, what we need is an expansion of existing facilities, not the creation of new ones,” he concluded.
In addition to his stance on education, Oloyede, who also serves as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), addressed the need for Sharia courts in the South-West.
He highlighted the challenges faced by Muslims seeking legal recourse in marriage disputes.
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“If I have a dispute in my marriage, where do I go? A customary court, where the judge knows little to nothing about my faith and the legal framework on which my marriage was built?” he asked.
“The Nigerian Constitution allows for Sharia Courts of Appeal where a state assembly approves it. This should be implemented to ensure fair legal representation for all.”
