The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, revealed this on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the decision was reached after the Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Adamu, the approved universities will get their provisional licences from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which they will use for the next three years while monitoring and evaluation will go on.

The approved universities are:

1. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom,
2. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara,
3. Maranathan University, Mgbidi, Imo,
4. Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
5. Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State
6. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo,
7. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River,
8. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo ,
9. NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State
10. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau
11. James Hope University, Lagos, Lagos State
12. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
13. Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
14. Ahman Pategi University, Pategi, Kwara
15. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara, also got provisional approval
16. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
17. Edusoko University, Bida, Niger
18. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
19. Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa
20. Anan University, Kwall, Plateau

Nine of the private universities are located in North Central, three in South South, two in South East, five in the North West and one in South West.

With the approval of additional 20 universities, Nigeria now has 99 private universities.