Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike, a former Minister of Education and Health, highlighted the lack of private or state universities before his tenure as Minister of Education under Shehu Shagari. At that time, Nigeria only had federal universities, with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka being the sole institution in the South-East region.
During Professor Madubuike's time in office, several new universities were established, including the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), a university in Yola, and the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
During an interview with The Vanguard, Madubuike stated, "There were no private or state universities until I became Minister of Education under Shehu Shagari. All the 13 universities then were federal universities and only one, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was in the South-East. But within the short period I was in office, I brought the Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Owerri. We also had one in Yola, and the University of Agriculture Makurdi, among others."