This decision was taken at a meeting of the council on Wednesday, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Ministers of Information and Education, Patricia Akwashiki and Ibrahim Shekarau, briefed State House correspondents of the meeting’s outcome.
According to Shekarau, the upgraded colleges of education are, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo (now Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo); Federal College of Education, Zaria (now Federal University of Education, Zaria); Federal College of Education, Kano (now Federal University of Education, Kano); and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri (now Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri).
The minister added that the council had approved the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.
Until the approval, the university was said to be the College of Medical Health Sciences under the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
As regards the new Universities of Education, he said, “We are heading to having more graduates in the teaching profession and hence the need for these universities to produce graduates in education. If we need quality education, we need quality teachers,” he said.
He also said regards the new University of Health Sciences that the institution had now been granted autonomy as part of continuous efforts to ensure quality graduates into the various fields of medicine and sciences.
Shekarau explained that the next step was for the Ministry of Justice to prepare amendment to the laws establishing the colleges.
This, he explained, would be followed by some administrative changes.
“So, a total of five universities were approved at the council meeting today,” the minister added.
