NIGERIA: NUC Approves 13 New Degree Programmes To Modernise Nigerian Universities

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 13 new degree programmes as part of ongoing reforms to modernise higher education and align it with global academic and industry standards.

This was disclosed in a statement by the National Orientation Agency Nigeria, on Thursday.

According to the statement, it was reported that the newly approved courses include Artificial Intelligence, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Science, Geomatics Engineering, Telecommunication Science, Community Health Science, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Intelligence and Security Studies, Human Kinetics (Sport Management), Islamic Economics and Finance, Parasitology and Entomology, Cooperative Economics and Management, and Christian Education.

The Commission, in the statement said that the new programmes were developed under the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) policy framework and will take effect once universities offering them successfully complete the NUC’s resource verification exercise.

The NUC said: ” the introduction of the new programmes reflects the federal government’s commitment to building a knowledge-driven economy and preparing Nigerian graduates with 21st-century skills.”

It added that the approval also underscores Nigeria’s strategic focus on emerging disciplines in science, technology, innovation, and sustainable development.

The Commission reaffirmed its readiness to continue collaborating with universities, professional bodies, and industry stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s higher education system remains responsive to modern needs and global best practices.