The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied reports claiming it plans to sell the nation’s public universities to private investors. On Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, addressed these rumors during the Second Quarterly Engagement of the ministry with heads of units and chief executive officers of parastatals and agencies under the ministry.
Mamman clarified that the government’s current reforms include a policy known as transnational education, this policy aims to open up Nigeria’s tertiary education sector to international investment.
Responding to allegations from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that the government intended to sell public institutions to private investors, Mamman emphasized that the government is advocating for public-private partnerships to benefit the educational sector.
“There is no plan to sell off universities to investors,” Mamman stated.
“Some people are spreading false information that the Federal Government is selling its universities to private investors. This is absolutely false. This government believes in our public institutions. However, we are implementing necessary reforms.”
He added that the private sector would play a significant role in providing tertiary education, noting that Nigeria already has more private universities than public ones. The government’s aim is to enhance the global competitiveness of the country’s tertiary education system.
Mamman further explained that Nigeria must adopt international best practices by inviting global university operators to establish institutions in the country, either independently or in collaboration with local universities. He stressed that this approach is not about selling institutions but improving standards and fostering international cooperation.
“In other parts of the world, like Asia, they have benefited immensely from hosting international institutions. These institutions have raised educational standards and brought in substantial financial investment,” Mamman noted.
