There has been a consistent quest for higher education (especially university) in Nigeria, due to epileptic academic system. Coupled with the total number of candidates seeking admission into the various higher institutions in Nigeria yearly. On the basis of this, it has become obvious that the existing higher institutions, which were mainly government- owned, cannot cope with the ever- increasing demand for higher education in Nigeria. One of the basic panaceas to this challenge is the liberalization of participation in the education sector. The study applied both historical and sociological methodology in its investigation. This study examined the history of higher education in Nigeria, from 1989 to 2012. In addition, it also examined the role played by the private sector in the Nigerian educational sector in this present dispensation. The writers recommended that there should be a consistent upsurge of private higher institutions in Nigeria to adequately address the challenge posed by high prospective students’ demand for university education. This is due to the fact that the government alone cannot handle the ever- increasing demand for higher education in Nigeria. Key words: Higher Education, Participation, Private Sector, Sustainable Development
