NUC Opens Door To Foreign Universities, Ushering In New Era For Nigerian Higher Education

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has officially lifted the embargo on the establishment and operation of foreign universities in Nigeria, a move intended to attract foreign investment and enhance the competitiveness of the country’s higher education system.

The announcement was made by NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, during the 10th convocation ceremony of Gregory University in Uturu, Abia State. He explained that reopening Nigeria’s higher education sector to foreign universities forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving the quality of graduates and positioning Nigerian universities on the global stage.

Professor Ribadu, represented at the event by Offor Chukwuemeka, highlighted that the new policy would allow foreign universities to establish partnerships through six competitive models, including franchises, branch campuses, twinning or articulation programs, open and distance learning, acquisitions, and teaching institutions.

The NUC chief also outlined reforms such as the introduction of a code of governance for private universities to ensure consistency in regulation and curriculum re-engineering. Under the new framework, 70 percent of courses are standardized as mandatory core subjects, while 30 percent are left for universities to customize based on their areas of expertise. He stressed the importance of equipping graduates with 21st-century employability skills and commended Gregory University for its contributions to educational transformation in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, represented by Commissioner for Tertiary Education Professor Uche Eme Uche, praised the founder of Gregory University, Professor Gregory Ibe, for his vision in establishing the institution and reiterated the state government’s commitment to advancing education.