The National Universities Commission (NUC) has presented provisional licenses to 20 newly approved private universities in Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, ADAMU ADAMU, at the presentation of the licenses to the universities at the NUC’s headquarters in Abuja, said the approval brought the number of private universities in Nigeria to 99 and a total of 197 universities.

ADAMU, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, EMEKA NWAJIUBA, said the provisional approval given to the universities to operate is intended to create room for effective mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three years of operation.

He said during the monitoring period, the new universities would be affiliated to older generation universities for academic and administrative mentoring to be moderated by NUC.