By Chinedu Obike
Following the appreciable decline in COVID-19 infection rates in Nigeria, universities in the country have been directed to prepare for full resumption of academic activities, in line with established protocols.
The National Universities Commission (NUC), which issued the directive, said the Federal Ministry of Education has approved the request for immediate reopening of all tertiary institutions at a date yet to be announced.
Chris Maiyaki, the Director who conveyed the message, through a memo, to all Vice Chancellors on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Abubakar Rasheed, said the decision to reopen schools should not diminish the importance attached to full compliance.
The statement notes that: “The virus is still potent and there is no cure as at yet; universities must under no circumstances, violate the full circle of the semester system, consistent with the National Universities Commission approved Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS); Universities are to ensure strict compliance with other extant NUC quality assurance standards and guidelines”.
The directive further stated: “A joint inspection team comprising staff of the National Universities Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education, will be undertaking verification visits to inspect the reopened universities and their level of compliance with the quality assurance safety standards.”
Recall that the Federal Government had ordered the closure of all universities in the country following the outbreak of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
However, with the significant decline in the rate of spread of the pandemic as announced by The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the NUC, acting in concert with the Federal Ministry of Education, now considers it safe to reopen the institutions.