List: NUC grants provisional licence to Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics, 11 others
Story by Uji A. Iliyasu,
Abuja
The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), has granted operational licences to Isaac Balami University of Aeronautic and Management, located in Lagos State, and ten newly approved private universities across the country, marking a significant expansion in Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented the licences at a formal ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, following the universities’ approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Dr. Alausa noted that the approval aligns with the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative, a reform agenda aimed at reviving the quality and relevance of education in Nigeria.
“This ceremony is not only a celebration of your achievements but also a renewed call to action in building a future-ready and globally competitive Nigerian university system,” Dr. Alausa said.
Full list of the newly licensed universities:
New City University, Aiyetoro, Ogun State
Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State
Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State
Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State
Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun State
Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University, Ganmo, Kwara State
Monarch University, Iyesi Ota, Ogun State
Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin, Edo State
Isaac Balami University of Aeronautic and Management, Lagos State
Eranova University, Kuje, Federal Capital Territory
Dr. Alausa emphasised the importance of steering Nigeria’s higher education system toward priority fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM).
He expressed concern over the oversupply of social science graduates and advocated for the development of graduates equipped with practical life skills, capable of driving industrialisation, building infrastructure, and improving lives.
“Nigeria has more than enough social science graduates. What we need now are problem-solvers with relevant skills,” he said.
The minister noted that while there are now 159 licensed private universities in Nigeria, not all meet the expected quality standards. To address this, the NUC is undertaking a comprehensive review of quality assurance mechanisms to ensure all institutions—public or private—function as true centres of learning, innovation, and research.
Dr. Alausa also encouraged the newly licensed institutions to form collaborative networks among themselves and with foreign universities, stating that Nigeria has the potential to emerge as a hub for global educational partnerships.
He further disclosed that several of the universities presented with licences had been awaiting approval for over four years. Their eventual clearance, he said, came after a thorough three-year evaluation process, initiated following a presidential directive.
Speaking to journalists shortly after receiving the license, Mr. Isaac Balami, founder of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautic and Management, expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the approval.
Mr Balami, a 40-year-old aviation entrepreneur and CEO of 7-Star Global Hangar— one of the largest aircraft maintenance companies in West Africa—described the achievement as a victory for young Nigerians and for the education sector.
“This could only happen under a president who places a premium on education,” he said.
“For four years, we pursued this dream. Today, we are thankful to President Tinubu for breaking a jinx and showing true support for young people.”
Balami emphasised the university’s vision of advancing Nigeria’s aerospace industry, stating, “We assure Nigerians that with the take-off of our university, the first made-in-Nigeria aircraft will soon take flight.”
Calling the university a “national project,” Balami said it belongs to every Nigerian, and promised that it would set a new standard in aeronautic and management education. “From being a child of nobody to establishing a university—this is proof that dreams can come true,” he added.
Professor Paul Jemitola, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university and a seasoned Air Force professional with international experience, pledged to bring his global knowledge to bear on the development of the institution and its students.
“Big things are about to happen in Nigeria,” Jemitola declared, adding that the institution would be a beacon for world-class aeronautical training.
Meanwhile, Mr. Alvin Atsegwasi, who represented 88 international student admission agents at the ceremony, praised the university’s strategic location in Lagos. He revealed that the university had already begun receiving inquiries from parents across Europe and the United States.
“A jet is about to take off—both literally and figuratively—in the name of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautic and Management,” Atsegwasi said.
With the licencing of these new universities, stakeholders are hopeful that Nigeria’s higher education sector is on the cusp of transformation, driven by innovation, private sector participation, and a commitment to global competitiveness.
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