New NUC Boss Ribadu Assumes Office, Pledges Reforms

Professor Abdullahi Ribadu has officially assumed office as the 9th substantive Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), pledging to reform the laws governing the commission and enhance its efficiency.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Ribadu, who took over from the outgoing acting Executive Secretary, Dr. Chris Maiyaki, promised to prioritize staff welfare and training while working collaboratively to address challenges in the Nigerian university system.

“I ask each and every one of you to join me on this journey of building a commission that is more robust, efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of our stakeholders,” Ribadu said. “On my part, I will prioritize your training and welfare because I believe investing in professional development and well-being will yield maximum productivity.”

Ribadu outlined his vision for increasing access to university education, highlighting the current challenges.

“Access remains a significant issue. Approximately two million candidates sit for JAMB exams annually, yet only about 500,000 are admitted into tertiary institutions. Even with a 50% pass rate assumption, about one million candidates qualify, but only half of them secure university admission,” he explained.

He proposed addressing this gap by expanding infrastructure and resources in public universities, promoting e-learning and distance education, encouraging private sector participation, and securing additional funding and external support.

The outgoing acting Executive Secretary, Dr. Chris Maiyaki, hailed Ribadu’s appointment as timely, noting the need for innovative leadership to tackle pressing issues in the Nigerian university system.

Maiyaki also emphasized the need to update the commission’s enabling laws, which he described as outdated and restrictive.

“Many of the enabling laws of the commission are obsolete and limit its ability to adapt to new trends. These outdated laws hinder the NUC’s capacity to regulate and curb the proliferation of illegal degree-awarding institutions and unapproved programs,” he said.

Ribadu’s assumption of office is seen as a critical step toward addressing systemic challenges and modernizing Nigeria’s university education landscape.