The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Tuesday in Abuja presented provisional licence to PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The other universities presented with the provisional licences include Naval Admiralty University, Ibusa, Delta State, Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State, and Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking at the occasion, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, explained that the commission was presenting the licences to the private universities after subjecting them to strict scrutiny to ensure that they met the requirements to operate as universities.

He said that the necessary facilities must be on ground before a university could be given a licence to operate.

The NUC Executive Secretary added that the faster the facilities were put in place, the faster the commission would present licences to them.

He noted that PAMO University of Medical Sciences was presented with provisional license within 11 months.

This, he said, was a clear indication that the university met the necessary requirements early enough to have been able to achieve such feat.

He also noted that the country needed more universities to support the teeming population who still found it difficult to gain admission into the nation’s universities.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by Mr Sunday Echono, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said the licences were presented to the universities having met the requirements of NUC.

Echono said the presentation brought the number of private universities in the country to 74.

The minister said the licence would go a long way in reducing the challenges Nigerians were facing, especially in area of gaining admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

•Photo shows, L-R; Hon. Justice Olufunlola Oyelola Adekeye; Sen. Hope Uzodinma; Sen. Isah Misau; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah; Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR; Dr Peter Odili CON, Vice Chancellor of PAMO Educational Foundation, Prof. Michael Diejomaoh; and Justice Mrs. Mary Odili, during the presentation of provisional licence to PAMO University of Medical Sciences Port Harcourt, by the National Universities Commission . . . on Monday in Abuja.