Ondo State’s core South region is preparing for a major economic and educational boost as the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Chairman, Prince Biyi Poroye, confirmed plans to partner with the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, to establish the School of Maritime Transport and Logistics in Ugbonla, Ilaje Local Government Area.

The partnership will be formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a decisive move to turn the vision into a groundbreaking reality.

The agreement aims to provide the region’s youth with valuable skills for today’s competitive maritime and logistics sector while boosting local industries, attracting investments, and driving long-term economic growth.

Speaking while hosting OAUSTECH’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, and his team in his office, Prince Poroye emphasised the strong ties between OSOPADEC and OAUSTECH, reiterating the Commission’s dedication to education, research, and capacity building.

“This is not a white elephant project. It is an investment for present and future generations. By 2026, the first batch of world-class maritime professionals will walk through our doors, as we complete every detail with precision and purpose. My team has inspected the project site, the vision is clear, and our resolve is unshakable; we mean business,” he said.

The facility, which is already 60 percent complete, is designed to train future shipping experts, port managers, nautical scientists, and logistics specialists, positioning Ondo State as a notable player on the global maritime map.

Prof. Ologunorisa, responding to the Chairman’s remarks, praised OSOPADEC’s unwavering role in regional development and disclosed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed OAUSTECH to work closely with the Commission to ensure the project’s success.

“We’re here to cement this partnership and push abandoned projects over the finish line. The School of Maritime must be completed and fast,” he stated.

With the MoU in progress and 2026 set as the admission year for the first students, the Ugbonla Maritime School is projected to create jobs, expand skill development, and strengthen economic opportunities in Ondo State’s oil-producing areas, making it a key driver for growth in the maritime and logistics industry.

August 13, 2025 – The National Universities Commission has released a reviewed set of guidelines for the establishment of private universities in Nigeria. The Commission, which operates under the Federal Ministry of Education, said the move follows provisions of the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

This law empowers the NUC to ensure orderly development of university education in the country.

In a statement titled “Moratorium on Establishment of Private Universities in Nigeria” issued on 10 February 2025, the NUC confirmed that it has commenced the review of its guidelines for licensing private universities. The Commission explained that the aim is to ensure that approved institutions are able to meet the demands of modern higher education in the 21st century. “Details will be communicated to stakeholders in due course,” it added.

Acting on the directive of the Honourable Minister of Education, the NUC has now informed all applicants with pending applications and the general public of the following reviewed guidelines:

1. Deadline for Payment of Processing Fee:
   a) All Proprietors with Pending Active Applications for establishment of private universities in Nigeria, yet to undergo NUC Management Approval and onward transmission to Honourable Minister of Education, are required to pay non- refundable reviewed Processing Fee of ₦25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) within 30 working days from the date of this Advertorial and failure to do so will result in their Applications becoming invalid.
   b) Applicants that paid the old Processing Fee of ₦5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) are now required to pay the balance of non- refundable fee of ₦20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) within the specified time frame or face the same fate as in 1(a) above.
2. Timelines within which to Request for Verification Visits:
   i) Upon confirmation of payment of Processing Fee:
   a) Proprietors of Pending Active Applications awaiting First Verification Visit have 90 days from the date of payment to formerly request for the First Verification Visit and failure to do so will result in their Applications becoming invalid.
   b) Proprietors of Pending Active Applications awaiting Second Verification Visit have 180 days from the date of the First Verification Visit or the date of payment of balance of Processing Fee within which to request for the Second Verification Visit and failure to do so will result in their Applications becoming invalid.
   ii) Confirmation Visit: Proprietors of Applications that fail 2nd Verification Visit shall pay an additional non-refundable processing fee of ₦10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) and shall request for Confirmation Visit within 180 days from the date of the 2nd Verification Visit and failure to do so will result in their Applications becoming invalid.
3. Movement to Permanent Site:
   All Licensed Private Universities are required to move to their permanent sites at the end of the first Phase of development (i.e. end of the first 5 years).
4. Prohibition of Satellite Campuses:
   Proposed Private Universities are henceforth not allowed to designate multi-campuses across different States in the Federation.
5. Prohibition of Transnational Education without Approval:
   Private Universities shall not engage in transnational education without the approval of the NUC.
6. Need for Prompt Action:
   All applicants are advised to act promptly and ensure full compliance with the above Ministerial directives (on revised Guidelines and Timelines) to avoid undue delay and eventual cancellation of their Applications.

The Commission emphasised that the reviewed rules apply immediately to both ongoing and new applications.

According to the Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullah Yusuf Ribadu, the adjustments will help protect the quality of education and guarantee that institutions are adequately prepared before they are licensed.

“These measures are not intended to discourage investment in higher education but to ensure that those who wish to establish universities meet the required standards and timelines,” he said.

He explained that the updated processing fee and stricter verification timelines are designed to eliminate delays that often cause stagnation in the licensing process. He also warned that applications that fail to comply with the payment deadlines or request timelines will be considered invalid without further notice.

The NUC also reaffirmed its position on permanent site requirements, noting that operating from a permanent campus is a key step in institutional development.

The restriction on satellite campuses, the Commission added, is to prevent resource dilution and ensure proper supervision of academic quality.

Furthermore, the Commission said the ban on transnational education without approval is aimed at curbing unregulated foreign partnerships that could undermine the country’s education system. It urged potential investors to seek proper authorisation before engaging in such arrangements.

For more details, the Commission advised interested persons and institutions to contact the Acting Director, Directorate for the Establishment of Private Universities, at its headquarters located at 26, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama District, Abuja. The official contact number provided is 08036145399.

The Executive Secretary concluded by saying that the NUC will continue to provide guidance to stakeholders to ensure compliance. “We are committed to the orderly growth of Nigeria’s university system, and we will work with genuine investors who are ready to follow the right processes,” he stated.