The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that the Federal Government has no plans to sell universities to private investors.
This clarification was made during the Second Quarterly Engagement of the ministry with heads of units and chief executives of parastatals and agencies.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities had previously accused the Federal Government of intending to hand over federal universities to investors through public-private partnerships.
Prof. Mamman denied these allegations, staying that the government’s policy is focused on transnational education, which aims to bring global investment into Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
He clarified that transnational education involves inviting international entities to invest in and collaborate with local universities, rather than selling off these institutions.
The minister highlighted that while the private sector plays a significant role in tertiary education, with more private universities than public ones in Nigeria, the government remains committed to public institutions.
The goal, he said, is to enhance global competitiveness in Nigeria’s tertiary education by allowing international standards and investments to enter the local education system.
Mamman pointed out the benefits seen in other parts of the world, such as Asia, where international institutions have improved education standards and brought economic benefits.
