The National Universities Commission (NUC) clarified that no university in Nigeria, whether public or private, is permitted to charge tuition fees in dollars. Chris Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, emphasized during an interactive session with the Education Correspondent of Nigeria that any accusation of universities charging in dollars pertains to fees for foreign students.
He further stated that Nigerian law prohibits institutions from charging in dollars, and international students studying in Nigeria must pay their fees in dollars.
Maiyaki condemned illegal degree mills, disclosing successful prosecutions resulting in individuals serving jail terms. He highlighted the production of a directory of full professors and a unit cost analysis, providing estimates for training individuals in specific disciplines.
The NUC is working towards addressing challenges such as constant university strikes, slow adoption of ICT in teaching, insufficient funds for training, and the lack of modern equipment for quality assurance activities.
Additionally, Maiyaki mentioned the reintroduction of 26 Distance Learning Centers to bridge education gaps, with plans for more centers and universities pending approval.
Despite challenges, he assured the public of the commitment to maintaining high-quality education and closing the demand-supply gap in the Nigerian educational system.
