[b]Federal Government has approved the immediate release of N9bn from N10bn earmarked for the take off of six new universities across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Each university is to get N1.5bn for refurbishment of facilities so academic activities can commence next September.

Minister of State for Education Mr. Kenneth Gbagi said this yesterday when he received the report from the technical committee set up last Thursday to work out modalities for six new universities and the future of polytechnics, specialised institutions and Colleges of Education (COE).

Already it has been approved that two of the universities would be established in Bayelsa representing the south-south where President Goodluck Jonathan hails from and Jigawa for northwest, the state of the Education minister Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i.

Gbagi denied the choice of these universities in the states was politically motivated but there were states "which needed to show federal presence."

According to him, "Bayelsa is the only state without a federal institution in the south-south and it just happens that the president is from there. In the northwest geopolitical zone Jigawa has the least number of federal institutions."
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As for the remaining four slots, the Minister said there were agitations from all quarters but their locations would be disclosed after further consultation with the presidency.

On criticisms for the establishment for new universities he said, "The universities we have in the country are so grossly inadequate and cannot cater for the population of the country. It is the responsibility of government to bring education to the doorstep of every Nigerian."

Gbagi said government has no plans to scrap polytechnics and COEs but is working to ensure they are more relevant to the society.

The 12-man committee chaired by Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Julius Okojie would remain to oversee the take off of the universities.[/b]

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