The National Universities Commission has granted a provisional licence to High Flyers University, Ikere Ekiti, authorising the private institution to commence academic operations in Ekiti State.

The licence, dated June 29, 2026, was formally presented in Abuja on Friday by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof Abdullahi Ribadu, to the university's proprietor, Dr Busayo Ajayi. The certificate carries the signatures of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Executive Secretary, confirming Federal Government authorisation for the Institution to begin academic activities.

High Flyers University will open with three academic faculties, comprising 11 departments and 15 undergraduate degree programmes structured around healthcare, science, technology, computing, management and security studies, according to details released by the Commission.

The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences will offer Nursing Science, Public Health, Physiotherapy and Medical Laboratory Science, responding to Nigeria's rising demand for skilled healthcare personnel. Under the Faculty of Science and Computing, students will study Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Physics with Electronics, Science Laboratory Technology and Microbiology. A Faculty of Social and Management Sciences will run degree programmes in Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology and Security Studies, and International Relations.

Reacting after receiving the licence, Ajayi described the approval as a significant milestone for the Institution and commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for policies supporting investment in higher education. He noted plans to attract accomplished academics and researchers from within and outside Nigeria to build a university recognised for academic excellence, impactful research and innovation.

Ajayi added that the Institution's long term vision is to produce graduates equipped with the knowledge, practical skills and global competencies required to compete internationally, with strong emphasis placed on research, innovation and community engagement.

The approval extends the growing list of private universities licensed by the Federal Government in recent years, at a time when university admission demand continues to outpace available capacity nationwide. Education experts note that private universities complement public institutions by widening access and introducing specialised programmes, while stressing that continued sector growth must be matched by strict regulatory oversight covering academic standards, infrastructure and staffing.

Attention now turns to the Institution's readiness ahead of its inaugural academic session.