News
Wake Up, NUC
The National Universities Commission (NUC) may have stunned Nigerians and indeed the international community recently as it announced that no fewer than 34 illegal universities were operating in the country.
Sadly, the list of the affected institutions showed that some foreign universities were operating in the country without the pre-requisite Federal Government approval. What’s more, some of the institutions are campuses of universities in the United Kingdom, such as Camlumbus, Tiu International Pebbles, Aston and London External Studies, among others.
Again, the list of the illegal institutions operating across the country include the United States International University, Missouri, in Kano and Lagos, Volta University College, Ghana and all its campuses, as well as the University of Applied Science and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin and its campuses.
Others listed are St. Andrews University College, Abuja and its campuses: Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja, Blacksmith University, Awka, Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi and UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers State.
Reacting to the resurgence of illegal institutions in the country, Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary of NUC, warned that certificates obtained from such illegal universities would not be recognized for any purpose, and announced that the relevant law enforcement agencies had already been informed for necessary action.
As it were, the quest for the review of the accreditation criteria for the nation’s universities has in the recent past dominated public discourse. Reason: Most of the country’s universities are also (currently) running unaccredited programmes to the detriment of unsuspecting students.
Worried by the trend, the authorities of NUC, not too long ago, announced fresh plans to carryout a nation-wide review of the criteria earlier used for the accreditation of programmes being run by both public and private universities across the country.
Dropping the news in Abuja, Prof Okojie said the commission would now accredit institutions and not pgorammes again. His words: “we are now embarking on institutional accreditation because the accreditation programme has not achieved the desired result in recent times,” and insisted that the accreditation exercise would ensure that each university was well equipped to run its approved programmes.
NUC, Prof. Okojie said, would embark on the 2007 round accreditation in which 942 programmes in the 13 disciplines in 53 universities would be examined, and announced that already, 125 panels have been constituted for the accreditation exercise.
The commission’s executive secretary also hinted that during the “2007 Comprehensive accreditation exercise”, university programmes which earlier earned full accreditation status would be x-rayed, and that programems which earned interim accreditation would be reviewed.
Although NUC’s latest move to sanitase the nation’s university system is long overdue, it is worthy of commendation as it would save the decay that has over the years enveloped the nation’s university system, thereby making mockery of the degree certificates obtained from some of the nation’s universities.
Therefore, it is hoped the current steps by the commission would achieve the desired result so that universities would meet the dreams, and aspirations of their founding fathers. Their dreams must be kept alive in the interest of the nation.
Yes, NUC’s planned review of accreditation of universities and their programmes, must be spiritedly handled in order to halt the emergence of unapproved programmes that pervade the country’s university campuses.
One can recall vividly that towards the end of Prof Aborishade’s tenure as Education Minister, some programmes were stopped on the orders of the minister, an action that gladdened the heart of educationists and other well-meaning Nigerians.
Indeed, the then minister’s action paid off as scores of unaccredited programmes and unapproved satellite campuses of universities were closed down across the length and breadth of the country.
Sadly enough, some of the satellite campuses and unaccredited programmes that were shut by the Aborishade-led administration, have, to the chagrin of many, resurfaced again in some of the tertiary institutions.
This is why the NUC’s authorities should ensure that any programmes that do not scale through the planned review exercise, must not be allowed to resurface in any of the universities in the country through the back door.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.