The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it will soon undertake a mid-term review of the academic programmes of accredited universities in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, disclosed this at a workshop on Wednesday in Abuja.

Our correspondent reports that the workshop was organised by the Commission and the Committee of Directors of Academic Planning of Nigerian Universities for the universities’ academic planners.

Okojie urged the accredited universities to ensure proper planning of their academic programmes and evolve management structures that would boost their performance in teaching and research.

“The role of planning in the university system is very crucial. There is no way we can run an effective university system without proper planning to co-ordinate and streamline academic policy matters.’’

Okojie urged stakeholders in tertiary education to acquire the art of improving academic standards through strategic planning.

He decried the low funding of some state universities, noting that there would be no growth without adequate funding of tertiary institutions.

“There are some state universities that are worse than private universities because they are not well funded; private universities are planning properly and they are growing.

“In the next 10 to 20 years, they will be leading in this country because they have private sector discipline’’ Okojie said.

Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, the Minister of Education, said that there was the need to improve the quality of education in the country.

“To accomplish this, crucial planning is necessary and the Federal Government has recognised the need to revamp the education sector through the one-year strategic planning programme.’’

Earlier, Mrs Abosede Adebayo, the Chairperson of the Committee of Directors of Academic Planning of Nigerian Universities, had spoken of the need for constant training of academic

planners to build their capacity