Twenty private universities have been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.
The universities were given provisional licenses to run for three years while the ministry monitors and evaluates their growth.
The approval will increase the tally of private universities in the country to 99.
Meanwhile, members at the meeting, observed silence moment for two late cabinet members who died recently.
They are Alfa Wali and Tony Momoh.
The minute of silence was observed just before the commencement of the weekly meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the State House.
Wali, a prominent Kano State indigene and former Minister of Agriculture, died on Monday, January 25th, 2021.
He also served as Permanent Secretary in many ministries, including the Ministry of Defence.
The late Momoh was a veteran journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, who died on February 1, 2020, at the age of 82.
The Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongunu, as well as seven ministers physically, attended the meeting.
The ministers include Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, and Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.