NIPSS Course 37 Visits NUC

NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON right, presenting a copy of the Commission's weekly Bulletin to the leader of the delegation, Senior Exexcutive Course 37, NIPSS, Kuru, Prof. Celestine Bassey

Members of the Senior Executive Course 37 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies( NIPSS), Kuru, led by Professor Celestine Bassey, on Tuesday, 26 August 2015, visited the National Universities Commission (NUC) on a study tour, as part of activities to under study strategic institutions in the country.

Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, in a group photograph with some Management staff and the NIPSS delegation

The Executive Secretary, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, said that the Commission was established following the recommendation of Eric Ashby’s Commission in 1962, first as a Department in the Cabinet Office with advisory responsibility. However, in 1974, it became a statutory body with the responsibility of ensuring the orderly development of a well co- ordinated university system that would guarantee quality and relevant educational development and global competitiveness. He stated that the Commission was vested with the responsibilities of granting approval for all academic programmes and the establishment of all higher educational institutions offering degree programmes and assuring quality of all academic programmes and the offered in Nigerian universities. It also serves as a channel for all external support to Nigerian universities. Professor Okojie stated that the Commission had a vision of been a dynamic regulatory agency that would act as a catalyst for positive change and innovation for the delivery of quality university education in Nigeria. He explained that in carrying out some of its activities, the Commission matches university graduate output with national manpower needs through the Nigerian Labour Market Observatory Project (LMOP) to enhance manpower development. The Project, he noted had amongst other things, fostered a cordial relationship between the NUS and the private sector. Part of the objectives of the Project was to create a national and institutional structure for guidance and management of the Management Information System in the country.

Group Photograph

Deputy Director, ICT Projects, Dr Joshua Atah briefing the NIPSS delegation on the NgREN project

The Executive Secretary informed the group that as part of the Commission’s quality Assurance mechanism, it provided the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) for all academic programmes in the NUS and also carries out accreditation exercise of such programmes in order to ensure compliance. He stated that the Federal Government was addressing the challenge of access through the establishment and licencing of more universities. Responding to questions from the group, Professor Okojie stated that the Commission was partnering with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute illegal university operators, adding that some suspects had being convicted while others were still undergoing trials. He stated that the Commission was also collaborating with other University Regulatory Agencies of 2 Monday Bulletin Vol. 10 No. 35 - 30 August, 2015 A Publication of the Office of the Executive Secretary Vol. 10 No. 35 - 30 August, 2015 A Publication of the Office of the Executive Secretary 3 Monday Bulletin Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, in a group photograph with some Management staff and the NIPSS delegation foreign countries to ensure that only approved and accredited universities were patronised by Nigerians. A summit in Dakar Senegal recently examined the possibility of inter-country student transfer. A decision was, however, yet to be taken on the matter due to the differences in the Anglo-Phone and Franco-Phone countries. Professor Okojie informed the group that few years ago, the Commission sponsored some Education Correspondents on a fact- finding visit to Ghana, where it discovered that a four-storey shopping mall housed three illegal universities with predominantly Nigerian students. The challenge of illegal university, he said, was a global phenomenon. The Executive Secretary stated that the Commission had a tripartite relationship with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to ensure that only graduates who were duly admitted through JAMB and whose programmes were approved and accredited by NUC were mobilised for youth service. He stated that with these efforts, the NUS was being rid of illegal operators. On Open and Distance Education, Professor Okojie noted that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was as good as the regular brick and mortar system, adding that NOUN was a mega university with almost 200,000 student population. He stated that the Commission had made it compulsory for students of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Police Academy to be admitted through JAMB, noting that the Commission had also introduced the Linkage with Academics in Diaspora Scheme (LEADS) through which Nigerian academic in the diaspora could be engaged for the NUS. The Executive Secretary stated that the Commission, under his watch, had successfully reviewed the curricula of the 13 disciplines in the NUS, taking into consideration current realities and developments. He reiterated the fact that Nigerian graduates were globally competitive in view of their performance in some foreign universities. He also noted that many foreign Universities, especially African, paraded Nigerian professors. Earlier, the leader of the delegation called on NUC to ensure that only men and women of proven integrity were appointed into the Governing Councils of Universities in order to ensure effective policy direction for the universities. He advocated for more powers for the NUC to enable it discharge its regulatory functions more effectively, adding that the repositioning of the nation’s education system required an effective regulator like the NUC. At the event were the Deputy Executive Secretary I, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana; DES II, Mal. Ibrahim Dan’Iya and some Directors. In the NIPSS delegation were Asst. Inspector General of Police, Umaru Abubakar Manko, mni; Prof. Kyauta Tanyigna; Col. A.A. Fayemimo; CP Ibrahim Adamu; Onyebuchi Joachin Akosin; Lawal A. Tambari; Dr. (Mrs) Bolatito Morenike Obisesan; Alh. Alkali Abubakar; Barr. Paul Ishola Bankole; Barr. (Mrs) J.C. Emekekwue; Kayode Abe and Sirajo Umar Yauri