The procedure of starting a new institution isn’t that complex. There are certain NUC requirements for private universities to be established in Nigeria.
Your university will get NUC approval after it has the required buildings, libraries, and teaching and non-teaching personnel in different courses.
The whole NUC Accreditation criteria are listed here. These are the minimal academic benchmarks set by NUC.
Duties of the National Universities Commission NUC
Below are some of the role and functions of the NUC:
- Academic Planning: The commission assists in the development of academic programs, curricula, and educational policies to align them with national development goals and global best practices.
- Research and Development: NUC promotes research and development activities in Nigerian universities and encourages collaboration between institutions, industries, and other research organizations.
- Resource Allocation: It plays a role in the allocation of resources to universities, helping to ensure equitable distribution of funds and resources to support teaching, research, and infrastructure development.
- Policy Formulation: NUC is involved in the formulation of policies related to higher education in Nigeria. It provides recommendations to the government on policies and strategies to improve the quality and accessibility of tertiary education.
- In Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) is the regulatory agency in charge of monitoring and controlling the operations of universities and other postsecondary institutions. Its main duties and tasks consist of:
- Accreditation: In order to make sure that academic programs at universities meet predetermined requirements for relevance and quality, NUC is in charge of reaccrediting them. This procedure aids in preserving the caliber of education provided by Nigerian academic institutions.
- Program Approval: The NUC grants permission for new academic programs and universities to be established. Before beginning a new program, universities and other organizations must get NUC permission.
- Assurance of Quality: To make sure universities and their programs continue to offer high-quality instruction and are relevant to the demands of society, NUC periodically audits and evaluates the quality of these institutions.
NUC Requirements for Private Universities Establishment – 12 STEPS
Step 1: Submit a written application outlining your desire to establish a university.
Interested candidates should submit a written application to the NUC Executive Secretary outlining their desire to create a university.
The statement of intent should briefly describe the new university’s name, location, purpose, and vision as well as its kind and intended focus within the existing Nigerian university system.
No doubt, every of the cheapest private universities in Nigeria have gone through this very first step.
Step 2: Interview of Promoters to Ascertain their Seriousness
The next step of the NUC requirements for private universities establishment is to ascertain the seriousness of the promoters.
You can’t just higher any random promoter to promote or advertise your institution. Hence the need to conduct a serious and in depth interview with various promoters to ascertain the level of their seriousness and commitment to their job.
Step 3: Collecting the application forms.
Individuals or corporate entities intending to establish a private university are asked to send a representative to the Commission after appropriate consideration of the written application to pick up a set of ten (10) application forms in person together with the required fees.
Copies of requirements and other instructions are also provided upon form collection to ensure correct advice. Additionally, additional explanations are requested as needed and provided.
Step 4: Application forms and related documents must be submitted.
If ready, provide one or more of the following papers with the completed application forms and a bank draft made out to NUC along with a non-refundable processing fee:
Drafts of the Academic Brief, Physical Masterplan, University Law, Counterpart Deed of Assignment, Certificate of Incorporation/Registration of Proprietors (included with the Articles of Association), Deed of Assignment/Certificate of Occupancy, Letter of Available Liquid Cash, and;
Step 5: SCOPU’s interactive meeting with the potential university
In order to prepare for the initial verification visit to the proposed university’s campus location, SCOPU typically invites the members of its Planning & Implementation Committee to NUC for an interactive meeting.
The paperwork procedure and other issues that touch on university governance are reviewed at the discussion, and many murky areas are cleared up.
The proposed university has the chance to speak with NUC’s Executive Secretary/Chief Executive and his Management team at the meeting in order to get encouragement and words of advise.
Additionally, a seminar presentation is given to inform the potential Proprietors of the fundamental principles of universities and their social obligations.
Related: List of Federal Universities in Nigeria
Step 6: Complete the submission of all necessary paperwork.
To fulfil the NUC requirements for private universities in Nigeria, submission of necessary documents is important. At this point, it is anticipated that the owners of private universities who had already submitted portions of the relevant paperwork will do so fully.
The draft Academic Briefs, draft Masterplan, and draft University Law are among the pertinent papers.
Step 7: Thorough Review and Analysis of Documents by Professionals in the Applicable NUC Departments
After the completed application forms and other papers are submitted, the materials are given to the professional Departments for review. The Departments then forward their comments and observations to the Committee for transmission to the suggested institution.
For instance, the Department of Academic Standards receives Academic Brief and Masterplan materials. The Legal Unit of the Office of the Executive Secretary often receives legal papers such the University Law, Counterpart Deed of Assignment, Certificate of Incorporation/Registration, and Deed of Assignment/Certificate of Occupancy.
Step 8: First Verification Visit
SCOPU conducts a verification visit to the prospective university to evaluate their paperwork with them one-on-one and gauge their degree of documentation readiness.
Physical facilities are also inspected to see if they are enough for the first phase’s planned colleges during this visit. Additionally, courtesy calls are made to the government organizations that run the water, power, and telephone systems as well as the traditional leaders and local government offices in the area where the planned institution would be built.
These visits are made to the host community to ask for support for the prospective university and to inform them that one is being considered for the region.
This visit, which is a need for the final verification visit, is particularly significant since it shows how devoted the Proprietor is to the project.
Step 9: Proprietors’ revision of the documentation in light of the SCOPU of NUC report
Next step to ensuring that the NUC requirements for private universities is met, the prospective institution is expected to update its paperwork and make the necessary facility changes after the first inspection in order to comply with the recommendations made.
The updated documents are sent to NUC for review and compliance evaluation. The proposed university is scheduled for the second (final) verification visit if it is determined that progress has been achieved in that direction.
Related: List of State Universities in Nigeria
Step 10: Second verification visit
Depending on how well the suggested institution is following the instructions, this could be the last time you come.
The Planning & Implementation Committee reviews the papers as a consequence, with the goal of improving them to an acceptable level.
The financial expert on the Committee examines and evaluates the papers that serve as proof of the cash that is readily accessible. Along with other legal papers, the bank guarantee of funds in the amount of N200 million would be seen and eventually submitted to NUC.
A final assessment of the physical facilities is also done to make sure they adhere to the authorized NUC standards.
Step 11: Proprietors and the Board of Trustees are subject to a security check
The owner (Promoter) and board members of the prospective colleges will be thoroughly vetted in order to provide the government the opportunity to determine their authenticity and make sure they are not people of dubious moral character.
12th step: approval via NUC Management
To fulfil the NUC requirements for private universities, approval by the NUC management in crucial. SCOPU submits a thorough report with scores to the NUC Management for its assessment and any further action that may be required after returning to NUC after the final verification visit.
13th step: approval using NUC Board
After receiving the SCOPU report on the proposed university, the NUC Management evaluates it and provides the necessary recommendations to the University Development Committee (UDC) of the NUC Board, who then proposes them to the Board for approval.
The Board then submits its suggestion for review and approval to the Federal Government via the Honorable Minister of Education.
Step 14 – Federal Executive Council approval
The Federal Executive Council takes into account the Security Report on the Promoters of the proposed University and the recommendations of the NUC Board.
If accepted, the Proprietor is given a three-year Provisional License. A legitimate License will only be granted to the Proprietor if they do well throughout their probationary term.
Related: List of Federal and Private Universities in Osun State
NUC Regulations
The Federal Government of Nigeria has adopted guidelines for the development of higher institutions of learning in Nigeria in accordance with the Commission on the Review of Higher Education in Nigeria’s recommendations.
The following is a reproduction of pertinent passages from the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) (Amendment Decree No. 9 of 1993): -19A. A higher education institution may be sponsored or owned by the Federal Government, a State, a local government, or any of the following, namely:-
Talking about the NUC requirements for private universities, A Nigerian corporation may create an institution, or b. a Nigerian citizen or group of Nigerian citizens may form an institution if they meet the requirements for institution creation listed in the Schedule to this Act.
Through the National Universities Commission in the case of a university; b. through the National Board for Technical Education in the case of a polytechnic or college of agriculture; c. through the National Commission for Colleges of Education in the case of a college of education; and d. in any other case, through the Director-General of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(2) Unless the application for the creation of that tertiary institution was made in accordance with the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, no State, Local Government, or tertiary institution may benefit from the education tax with regard to a tertiary institution.
(3) No individual shall be authorized to establish a higher education institution unless the requirements outlined in the Schedule to this Act have been met.
NUC Requirements for Private Universities (Summary):
The above are the NUC Regulations for setting up a private institution in Nigeria.
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