Illegal Universities-8 Operators Being Prosecuted By The NUC

No fewer than eight operators of illegal universities throughout Nigeria are currently being prosecuted or shut down by the National Universities Commission (NUC) says.

An NUC weekly bulletin, which was made available on Wednesday in Abuja, has revealed this.

The publication, signed by NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, listed the institutions involved as follows; National University of Nigeria, Keffi, Nasarawa State and North Central University, Otukpo, Benue State.

Others are Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University, Enugu; Richmond Open University, Arochukwu; Abia State; West Coast University, Umuahia; and Saint Clements University, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The list also includes Volta University College, Aba, Abia State as well as the illegal satellite campuses of Ambrose Alli University.

“In addition to the closure, the following `Degree Mills’ are currently undergoing court actions; the purpose of these actions is to prosecute the proprietors and recover illegal fees and charges on subscribers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, anybody who patronises or obtains any certificate from any of these illegal institutions does so at his or her own risk.

“Certificates obtained from these sources will not be recognised for the purposes of NYSC, employment and further studies.’’

The bulletin also listed 55 illegal universities which had not been licenced and were closed down for violating the Education Act of 2004.

NAN recalls that NUC recently handed over two alleged fake professors to the police for prosecution.

One of the problems that have bedevilled the education sector since the government decided to give go ahead to private universities to operate alongside public ones is the issue of illegal institutions.