FG bans Port Novo, Houdegbe, 16 other foreign universities

Nigeria has banned 18 foreign universities within its borders, labeling them “degree mills.”

Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC) announced the ban in a statement published on its website on Tuesday, citing an undercover investigation conducted by Umar Audu, who bagged a degree in Mass Communication from ESGT, a Benin university in Cotonou, within six weeks and participated in the mandatory one-year scheme organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

NUC, the Nigerian regulatory body for higher education, explained that the Federal Government had not licensed the affected universities and they had been closed down for violating the country’s education standards.

“The National Universities Commission wishes to announce to the general public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates, that the under-listed “degree mills” have not been licenced by the Federal Government and have therefore been closed down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” NUC said.

The affected universities span three countries: five from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana.

The list of blacklisted institutions are: the University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; the International University, Missouri, USA, Kano, and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; and the Collumbus University, United Kingdom, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.

Others included are Tiu International University, UK; Pebbles University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; London External Studies UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pilgrims University, operating anywhere in Nigeria; West African Christian University, operating anywhere in Nigeria; EC-Council University, USA; Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre; and Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria.

The rest are Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria: Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria; University of Education Winneba, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre and Evangel University of America & Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.