News

NUC blacklists 57 varsities
The National Universities
Commission has released the list of 57
illegal degree awarding institutions operating in various
campuses in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, warned
that certificates obtained from the institutions would not be
accorded recognition for the purpose of election and
participation in the National Youths Service Corps.
The commission also commenced investigation into the
activities of eight other illegal institutions which it said would be
prosecuted soon.
The NUC’s position was contained in its current in-house bulletin
obtained by The PUNCH on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the NUC, the illegal fees charged students by
operators of the illegal institutions would also be recovered.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the NUC, Mr. Ibrahim
Yakassai, told The PUNCH that the commission had always been
releasing names of institutions operating illegally for the
attention of the public.
The NUC had a month ago said that online degrees obtained
from foreign institutions would not be accepted as a means of
seeking employment or any doing other legitimate business in
Nigeria.
The commission had also slammed Maryam Abacha American
University in Niger Republic, saying it had been inundated with
enquiries from some Nigerian applicants who were offered
admission into the university
The NUC, which also discredited all part-time cross-border
education in Nigeria, warned citizens against patronising online
universities which offered academic programmes without
physical contact with their students.
The blacklisted 57 illegal universities included, University of
Accountancy and Management Studies; Christians of Charity
American University of Science and Technology, Nkpor,
Anambra State; University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos; University of
Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of
Benin; and Blacksmith University, Awka.
Others included Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region,
Ghana campuses in Nigeria; Royal University, Izhia, Abakaliki,
Ebonyi State; and Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi State.
The list also has Sunday Adokpela University, Otada Adoka,
Otukpo, Benue State; United Christian University, Macotis
Campus, Imo State; United Nigeria University College, Okija,
Anambra State; and Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue
State.
UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers State; Saint Augustine’s
University of Technology, Jos Plateau State; The International
University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres;
Columbus University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria; and Tiu
International University, U.K., operating anywhere in Nigeria
were also included on the list.
Also on the list are Pebbles University, U.K., operating anywhere
in Nigeria; London External Studies U.K., operating anywhere in
Nigeria; Pilgrims University, Lobi Business School, Makurdi,
Benue State; West African Christian University; Bolta University
College, Aba; and others.
Copyright PUNCH.