The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Tuesday, firmly denied allegations that the Federal Government plans to sell universities to private investors. This clarification came during the Second Quarterly Engagement of the Ministry with heads of units and chief executive officers of parastatals and agencies under the ministry.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities had accused the Federal Government of intending to hand over federal universities to investors through public-private partnerships. Addressing these concerns, Mamman stated, “There is no plan to sell off universities to investors,” and emphasized that the government’s policy supports transnational education.
According to Prof. Mamman, transnational education is a strategic initiative to enhance Nigeria’s tertiary education by inviting global entities to invest in the country’s educational system. “Some people are spreading false information that the Federal Government is selling its universities to private investors. This is an absolute lie and completely false. This government believes in our public institutions,” he asserted.
Mamman highlighted the government’s commitment to reforming the education sector, underscoring the significant role of the private sector. “There are more private universities in Nigeria than public universities combined. The government’s approach is to make our tertiary education globally competitive,” he explained.
The minister stressed the importance of international collaboration in higher education. He advocated for allowing international educational institutions to establish campuses in Nigeria, either independently or in partnership with local universities. He clarified that this initiative is not about selling public institutions but rather about enhancing the educational landscape through transnational education.
Prof. Mamman urged Nigeria to learn from the successes of other regions, such as Asia, where international institutions have significantly contributed to educational standards and economic benefits. “In other parts of the world, like Asia, they have benefited immensely from having international institutions in those countries. They have elevated standards and brought in substantial financial resources,” he noted.
