The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced plans to approved two more universities in the country, increasing the total number of universities in Nigeria to 272.

This was revealed by the commission’s acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, during an interaction with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

He stated that NUC would keep approving new universities in order to fill the admissions gap in the country. Maiyaki pointed out that, over two million applicants apply for universities annually, but only only between 500,000 and 700,000 students get admitted.

Maiyaki’s statement comes amidst the fight of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other Tertiary education sub-sector against government expansion of institutions in the country.

The Unions called on the government and NUC to stop approving new universities, arguing that the it is not the right thing to do, while existing ones was are not properly funded.

However, Maiyaki said: “We have no choice but to as a matter of deliberate policy undertake the massification of universities.”

He said what separates the developed today from other countries is the level of investments in education.

Speaking further he said: “You need to see the anguish and the frustration on the faces of families who are desperate to make sure that their children attend university education every admission session. It is very tough and challenging for university leaders and NUC and so we have no choice but to continue to approve the universities.

“The approval for two more varsities to bring the number of universities in the country to 272 has been concluded and will be announced next week.”

Maiyaki insisted that in order to satisfy its demands and provide high-quality education, Nigeria will keep expanding access to universities by approving more universities.