Historicizing the Development of Private Universities in Nigeria, 1980-2020s

Abstract

The paper discussed the development of private universities in Nigeria since its independence with a thrust from 1980s to 2020s. Private universities in Nigeria were first established in 1980s, but greeted with the challenges of discontinuity and continuity during cross-regime accounts in the civilian, military and the democratic dispensations of the post-independence era. Beyond the aesthetic architectural designs, the paper also discussed the issue of quality university education, the influence of the policy - 3rd National Development Plan; the Laws (Constitution) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979 and decrees 19 and 9 of 1984 and 1993 respectively, on the proliferation and operations of private universities, its relevance on Nigeria’s manpower needs and national development. As a qualitative study, historical research method was adopted, relying strongly on both primary and secondary sources of data; to generate dependable data for the analysis that have contributed to what the findings revealed as mainly the expansion of the content programmes and proliferation of private universities in the twenty-first century Nigeria. The recommendation of the study advocates for the establishment of private universities that would be adequately planned for and truly regulated, to complement public universities in terms of programmes, manpower needs and quality among others; so that Nigeria would adequately develop in order to effectively function in the comity of nations.