1.1 million candidates will not gain admission into universities

olamide oni

March 25, 2016 9:50 AM

We know the number of students that sit for UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) every year."

JAMB candidates

New reports from the National Universities Commission (NUC) has revealed that only 400,000 out of the 1. 5 million candidates that write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) every year gain admission into Nigerian universities.

The NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, said that the commission is usually unable to make provision for 1.1 million of the 1. 5 million candidates who apply for admission into various universities yearly.

"We know the number of students that sit for UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) every year.

"However, out of the 1.5 million students who write UTME every year, we are barely able to make provision for only about 400 students."

READ: 'Medical students to spend 11 years in university'

He urged universities to take research seriously in order to solve the immediate challenges of the society.

Okojie said this when Gov. Adams Oshiomole of Edo visited the Commission on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oshiomole was at NUC to collect the Certificate of Recognition for the newly established Edo State University, Iyanmo.

Okojie expressed his approval of the establishment of the new varsity saying, "I am always happy when a new university comes on board; what that means is that we are expanding and we are opening up access."

According to the executive secretary, the Edo State University, Iyanmo, has become the 41st state university and the 142nd university in Nigeria.

olamide oni