In the light of the negative publicity the country’s universities has been cultivating in recent times, many influential Nigerians and scholars have called for reform of the system. The clamour followed the incessant strikes by different unions and the decline in quality of graduates. They urged the government to reform the laws, regulations and policies guiding the existence and operations of the institutions. Bola Olajuwon, Bisi Olaniyi, Nwanosike Onu, (Awka) Damola Kola-Dare, Bisi Oladele (Ibadan), Kolade Adeyemi (Jos), Frank Ikpefan(Abuja), Toba Adedeji (Osogbo), Osagie Otabor (AKURE) report.

EDUCATION, according to scholars, is the process of nation-building and essentially the creation of national identity, culture, and direction. In this new age of technological advancement, the need for sustainable development must be inculcated into the nation’s educational system and the hearts and minds of the future generations.

According to experts, it’s crucial to produce enough amounts of professionals, researchers and scholars to propel growth, to replace personnel seeking greener pastures and to accelerate the country’s move on the pedestal of global competition and sustainability. The responsibility of nation-building essentially lies in the hands of its citizens, predominantly the youth and it is pertinent that they are well-educated as these groups of people are the ones responsible for building wealth for the nation and the ones who will drive technological advancements for the country. While all levels of education are very important in formation of well-educated citizens and workforce, tertiary education is seen as the final backbone of oiling a sustainable country.

Varsity unions and negative publicity

But, the Nigeria’s education sector has cultivated negative publicity in recent times, following the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill the agreements reached with universities’ unions.

The industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) commenced on February 14. It was later joined by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). The decisions of the four university-based unions to go on strike led to a total closure of the universities.

The unions are at loggerheads with the Federal Government, accusing it of failing to fulfill most of their demands, especially those of ASUU on the implementation of 2009 agreement with the government.

Some of the demands of the unions are: inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) payment, non-payment of Earned Allowances, delay in the renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU agreement, non-payment of Arrears of National Minimum Wage and usurpation of Headship of Non-Teaching Units.

Others are neglect and poor funding of state universities, non-payment of retirement benefits to outgoing members, and non-constitution of visitation panels to universities.

While other university unions agreed to call off their strike, ASUU had insisted never to reopen public universities until most of its conditions were met, prominent among which is the abolition of IPPIS to embrace its own creation – University Transparency Account System (UTAS). The union argued that UTAS would take care of the weaknesses in IPPIS, taking into cognizance the peculiarities of universities and how they ought to operate globally.

For the eight months that the industrial action lasted, the striking lecturers were not paid their salaries. Until the National Industrial Court (NIC) ordered them to return to work, ASUU had cited that payment of the backlog as one of the conditions for suspension of the strike.

After the Court of Appeal affirmed the order of the industrial court, ASUU directed its members to return to their duty posts, following a pledge by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to ensure that at least parts of the withheld salaries were paid, among others.

16 strikes in 23 years

Strikes in the universities began in the 1973/74 session and Nigerians have been confounded by the incessant strikes by ASUU, a development which deteriorated in 1988 during the military regime of President Ibrahim Babangida. The regime resorted to proscribing the union while most of the issues that generated the strikes remained unresolved. Since the new democratic dispensation in 1999, university lecturers have gone on strike on about 16 occasions, apart from those called by each university based on domestic peculiarities.

Nigeria and Western education

Many Nigerians have blamed the problems in the nation’s universities to the national education system.

Different countries have different education systems. The differences arise from what is invested in promoting public-schooling at different level such as the community, federal or state.  Some of the factors that differentiate the education systems between countries include the laws, regulations and policies imposed by the respective country, according to experts.

Nigeria has tailored its education system after the British education system, owing to colonial affinity. After the 1960 independence, the Nigerian educational system mirrored the British system.

In 1982, the first National Policy on education was developed and adopted. Since this period, the educational system has witnessed a lot of changes and modifications at various levels. The Nigerian education institutions are established, funded and managed by Federal, state governments, faith-based organisations and private individuals.

Similarities and differences in Nigeria and Western education system

Some scholars and stakeholders, in their opinions, categorically stated that there was no basis for comparing Nigerian education system with that of the western world.

Executive Director of multi-campus, mega private schools (day and boarding) in Port Harcourt, and other parts of Rivers State, Archdeacon Brown Education Centre Group of Schools, Dame Ibim Semenitari, in an interview with The Nation said: “I am not sure that there is one styled western education. The curricula vary from country to country. The British curriculum is distinct from the American and from the Spanish, and so on and so forth. So, really you cannot make any blanket comparisons. Nigeria is typed after the British and in some ways the American curricular.”

Also in a chat with The Nation in Jos, Prof. Saty Fwanshak, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Jos, said: “Most universities in UK are private owned. But part of Eastern Europe like Finland, Germany and others, are owned by government and are free.

Prof Sati also stated that universities in the UK and U.S. are mostly private owner and fully commercial.

Dr. Jimam Lar, Head of Department, History and International Studies, University of Jos, who also collaborated the view of Prof. Fwanshak, said: “University education is founded on three basic purposes: It must be accessible, it must have quality and it must have global relevance.

“This means that you should be able to access university education irrespective of your income. And the knowledge you receive must be of quality that can be compared to any other. Then the education you receive must be relevant to global trends because the society is dynamic and always evolving.”

Dr. Lar, who earned his PhD from Germany, said: “UK- and U.S.-run universities are meant for personal development and self-sponsored. Even as they are self-sponsored, student is entitled to bank loan for your studies, knowing fully well it’s very expressive.

“But in places like Germany, France, Finland, among others, they run university for public good and it is fully run by government and it is free of tuition-fee.

“But in Nigeria University, access is cumbersome; the quality is too poor and not relevant in a dynamic world. Nigeria universities cannot be said to be for public or personal development. The Nigeria university system is difficult to define.”

The Associate Professor added: “There is no basis for comparison, because when it comes to world university rankings, the UK has a proven track record. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge rank number one and two, with Imperial College London at number eight. Across all global ranking systems, criteria and fields of study, the UK ranks highly for quality of education, students’ satisfaction and global reputation.

“But in Nigeria, the story is the opposite, and I think there is no basis for comparison.”

The Deputy Director, School of General Studies and Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said comparing the two systems is like trekking from Anambra State to Lagos.

The Author of AFAMEFUNA, an encyclopedia of Igbo names, told The Nation in Awka Monday, that government stifles education in Nigeria, while education is promoted in the Western world

According to Ngozi Ezenwa-Ohaeto, “Western universities are generally autonomous with the Senate in charge of all academic decisions while university council upholds the administrative authority.

“Being autonomous entails that the council is in charge of appointment of Vice Chancellors, management of university finance, unlike in Nigeria where the Federal Government shirks its responsibly of adequate funding of its universities.

“The Nigerian Federal Government usurps the responsibility of appointment of VCs, which they have politicised. They have taken up admission of students by the introduction of quota system, which deprives bright students the opportunity to gain admission.

“Western university admission, on the other hand, is purely on merit. Nigerian government has also killed the system of interview that has been a prerequisite for lecturers’ appointment and which helps in appointing best brains into the system. They send list of names to VCs to appoint as academic staff.

“Western countries place high value in education, in teaching standard and they invest highly in the system to ensure state of the art infrastructure. Western education motivates university staff, especially, academic staff and mostly professors in appreciation of their onerous responsibility of building human capacity for national development.

“Nigerian professors, on the other hand are not motivated at all. They are systematically impoverished by the Federal Government. They are the worst remunerated globally resulting to demoralisation and the massive brain drain we are experiencing today. It’s only in Nigeria that politicians’ salaries are far higher than that of professors.

“In Western university system, academic staff far out-number that of non-academics. This is in the understanding that university is basically about academic and every effort is geared towards that. The opposite is the case in Nigeria,” Ngozi Ezenwa-Ohaeto said.

TETFund

But, owing to lack of enough funding, the Federal Government set up the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in 2011 to disburse, manage and monitor education tax to fund Federal and state governments-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The TETFund scheme was formed as a product of the Education Tax Act of 1993. This Act repeals the Education Tax Act Cap. E4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Education Tax Fund Act No. 17, 2003 and establishes the Tertiary Education Trust Fund charged with the responsibility for imposing, managing and disbursing the tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. There are other 14 different types of funding support from TETfund, and periodic support from agencies and parasatals of government. Before the establishment of the TETFund in 2011, government-owned tertiary institutions were poorly funded. The scheme was designed to improve the management of funds disbursed to these institutions. But ironically, the contributions of the fund have not lifted the universities out of their endless needs.

Solutions

The government’s contention over the years has been a lack of funds to meet the demands of ASUU. But, ASUU is angry because the same government complaining about lack of funds has not stopped paying political office holders their huge salaries and accommodating their lifestyle while denying education, the bedrock of any society, its dues.

Influential Nigerians have also expressed their opinions on how to resolve the lingering strikes in the ivory towers.

Jide Osunntokun’s intervention

Jide Osuntokun, a retired professor, who studied at the University of Ibadan as well as in Canada, Britain, Germany and France, intervened on issue in his column in The Nation titled: “Higher education and the future of Nigeria’ published on September 1, 2022.

Osuntokun, who taught in a Canadian and a West Indian university as well as the universities of Ibadan, Jos, Lagos and Maiduguri and in the Redeemers University, stated that to end the crises in the nation’s universities, the Federal and state governments must grant autonomy to the educational institutions. According to him, once university autonomy is granted, each university should cost what it would take to educate students across all disciplines in the universities in a differentiated school fees and come up with the economic cost.

The retired professor also called on the union to find a better way than embarking on incessant strikes to fight a just cause.

UNICEF’s reaction

In Nigeria’s N17 trillion 2022 budget signed into law at the end of 2021, 7.2 per cent was allocated to the education sector. UNICEF believes there was still a long way to go to reach the internationally recommended benchmark that countries should spend 15-20 per cent of their national budgets on education, Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said.

Nigeria needs to rethink funding for education, say vice chancellors

On the heels of lack of adequate funding, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has advised the Federal Government to rethink the funding model for public universities.

Its Secretary-General, Yakubu Ochefu, in a statement to The Nation said: “I have always held the position that we need to re-think the governance and funding models of our universities. The current models are not working and cannot meet the 21st century needs/challenges of the Nigerian University system. The current governance model gives some autonomy to the Governing Councils, but stops far short of what the law establishing those universities prescribes. So, the council has the right to hire and fire staff but subject to approval by the Head of Service, and has to depend on Federal government to pay the staff from a single source (IPPIS).

So, the peculiarities that are inherent in university systems all over the world are missing in our system.

“With regards to funding, Federal Universities, especially receive support from a variety of sources. These include, payment for their staff, capital and overheads from the National budget, 14 different types of funding support from TETfund, and periodic support from agencies and parasatals such as NCC, PTDF, NITDA, CBN, to mention a few. When all these are aggregated, that come to a tidy sum. However, in 2021 the budgetary shortfall to the Federal universities stood at over N100 billion. When you calculate the actual cost of training an undergraduate student in the sciences and you prorate it across the student population, you see immediately that there is a huge shortfall in what is required and what is received. The way to go is for government to pay the actual cost of training to the universities and let them decide the number of students they can train under full scholarship from the Federal Government.

“Governance and funding has been at the core of the dispute between ASUU and Government in the past 35 years. When autonomy is granted within the context of extant laws and such are not violated by circulars and cross legislation from other bodies, (Head of Service, Accountant-General, and Federal Character Commission etc) the universities will grow according to their individual capacities.”

Semenitari:  it’s lack of political will

Semenitari, looking at the issue, said: “Certainly, it is not a lack of policy. Rather, it is a lack of political will to implement policy and perhaps a challenge of having square pegs in round holes.

Having the right professionals with passion and vision in strategic positions in the sector will certainly help.”

On solution, she said: “I am wary about postulating, without having a global view of things.

“Honestly, the industrial court is established for the purpose of resolving conflicts between employers of labour and workers. With consistent dialogue failing, the courts might provide a chance for a possible resolution of the lingering crises

“In 2014, when President Goodluck Jonathan was the helmsman, he personally met at the State House in Abuja with the then leaders of ASUU for almost 24 hours, after which the strike was called off. Does President Muhammadu Buhari have the political will to do the needful, and is his government sincere about moving the education sector forward?

“Unfortunately, I cannot speak for the President or the Federal Government. I have no such powers, but I am hopeful that they would want to move the sector forward.

“Workers’ strikes ought not to linger on for so long, because of the horrible implications for workers and the sector where the strikes occur.

“At the end of the day, every conflict ends in negotiations and in give and take. It is important that the leaders of ASUU and the Federal Government resolve the crises.

“The sector is certainly in dire straits and requires urgent attention.”

NAPTAN seeks partial autonomy for universities

But, Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, urged partial autonomy for universities. According to him, government should provide 50 per cent funding, while universities generate funds internally to meet up. He urged government not to hands off funding, but commits more to education and ensures judicious use of funds.

He said: “Why would our nation want government to hands off funding of universities?  In European countries, government still funds universities, though partially. Not leaving total funding to universities.

“Then, total autonomy also amounts to universities funding themselves, through research and all. On the whole, there should be partial autonomy for varsities and not total autonomy. Beyond that, government should ensure that funds from the TETFUND are strictly used for education. There should be a committee to ensure the funds are prudently managed, there should be equitable distribution of the funds.

“Government should not hand off; it should commit more to education, utilise funds from TETFUND judiciously, give partial autonomy to universities; then we are good to go.”

‘Govt could not totally hands off varsities funding’

Former Director, Centre for General Nigerian Studies, Lagos State University (LASU) Prof. Biodun Akinpelu, noted that government could not totally hands off funding of universities. He added that granting universities total autonomy in the area of funding would bring more problems. According to him, universities would not be able to cope because funding affects so many layers in the development of universities. He said state universities would also find it difficult to cope.

He said: “For now, government cannot totally hands off funding of universities. If you grant universities total autonomy in the area of funding, society will have more problems, universities would not be able to cope because funding affects so many layers in the development of universities. Then, state universities will find it difficult to survive. For instance, LASU will be told to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), increasing it would put more pressure on the staff.

“Funding should be managed by government and universities, particularly state universities. Look at University of Ibadan, in 2020, it announced that by 2022 (this year), it would not need government funding anymore and that the school would be able to fund itself. It is possible because of the age of that university, but they discovered it is not working. The society you want to get funds from is dry. I know those who have children in private universities finding difficult to continue. In fact, some are willing to pull out.”

Akinpelu, however, stated that government should give universities a term, for instance, the next 10 years to properly plan to be financially independent before it hands off.

He also called for a sustainable partnership between universities and the private sector.

Olayinka: quality higher education and training is crucial for economies

To Prof. Idowu Olayinka, immediate past VC, University of Ibadan, university education is of immense benefit to any forward-looking nation.

“Quality higher education and training is crucial for economies that want to move up the value chain beyond simple production processes and products. Today’s globalising economy requires countries to nurture pools of well-educated workers who are able to perform complex tasks and adapt rapidly to their changing environment and the evolving needs of the production system. Sadly, poor funding and lopsided management of university education in Nigeria make it almost impossible for our universities to produce fit-for-purpose graduates that can easily excel in the global stage.

“The reputation of a nation abroad depends, to a large extent, on the quality of its university system. The business and industry collaborate with the university leading to creation of new and useful technologies from applied research.

“At the individual level, people go to the university because graduates have better employment opportunities and have enhanced earnings compared to non-graduates. University degrees open doors – many jobs now demand a degree. It provides the opportunity to learn new skills, gain knowledge from the experts and achieve your potential, encourages creative and independent thoughts, gives exposure to new research and technology, personal growth and improved self-esteem. It also offers higher job satisfaction, positive Return on Investment, social exposure to new people from other cultures and backgrounds, offers opportunity to make lifelong friends and important business contacts, increased marketability and earning potential. University education prepares students for a specialized career, helps develop life skills and build self-confidence to become a strong and independent individual.

“In Nigeria, we have grossly under-invested in tertiary education and now we are reaping the fruits of our negligence. The Nigerian Public University System has lost whopping six years and three months to national strike by ASUU from 1988 till date. The academic calendar is unstable as a result. The faculty members are overworked and under-paid. Because of our tendency to over-centralise nearly every aspect of our national life, whatever was left of university autonomy has now been destroyed completely. Research facilities are near absent. What is left is a grossly underperforming public university system. The chicken has finally come home to roost. Those who have options will continue to leave the country in droves to better organised countries in pursuit of their dream for world-class higher education such as USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Canada, Japan, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, India, Belgium, Malaysia and South Africa.

“To redress this trend, Nigeria must restructure its public university education management system to allow genuine autonomy and widen means of scaling up funding.”

Nigerian varsities cannot attract foreign lecturers, says Abimbola

On his part, a lecturer in the Adekunle Ajasin University, Dr. Gbenga Abimbola, said the Nigeria university education system focused more on certificate instead of knowledge acquisition as obtained in western universities.

Dr. Abimbola stated that foreign universities do not admit students more than the required capacity unlike in Nigeria where it is a ratio of one lecturer to 300 students.

Speaking in an interview in Akure, Dr. Abimbola said the current university education system in the country would make it difficult to attract foreign lecturers.

According to him, “In Nigeria, there is no quality control. We have over 200 students to one students. Our emphasis is on certificate. Lecturers here are so few. They cannot give quality. It is when you know your students, that you know their learning ability. In the western world, lecturers know the fast learners, the slow learners and normal learners.”

UI don: varsities system must rejig curriculum

A don at the University of Ibadan, Department of History, Dr. Muritala Monsuru, in an interview with The Nation, advised that Nigeria must rejig its curriculum towards indigenous methodology and blend it in a western way to solve challenges in the varsities system.

He lamented that the current system is too conservative to address the challenges that face the system.

According to him, “The Nigerian university system was fashion after the British system, talking about the curriculum and the structure. We have practised this for so long since Britain granted independence to us. For this number of years, we really need to have departed from what was given to us and probably practice what is obtainable now in the western world beyond the British legacy.”

He lamented that the varsity system has not been able to move in the direction of educating the younger generation in the world now.

“There is a need for us to look inward to create our indigenous methodology; we should interact with our environment to move in the direction where the world is going.

“We should fashion university education in a way that will suit our culture and tradition to move the system to a unique level. “

An alumnus of Ibadan Grammar School, Jide Ogungbadero in conjunction with Urban Books and Technology, USA has urged students, particularly those in secondary schools to always read and eradicate negative thoughts that can lead them into societal menace.

He noted that book reading would assist to develop their minds, adding that education remains only weapon towards nation building.

Speaking in Ibadan at the 2nd Annual Spelling Bee Competition to commemorates his 71st birthday celebration, Ogungbadero, who was represented by the immediate past Lagos chairman of the alumni association, Mr Akeem Suara, maintained that education is the weapon Nigerians needs to change the the nation for better.

Ogungbadero said the purpose of the competition was to reawaken educational standard and develop reading culture among students.

“Ogungbadero in his kindness thought instead of spending on his birthday party, he decided to impact and give back to his Alma matter to mark his birthday, the program have become a legacy which will continue for life even when he is no more alive.”

“Six winner will emerge today, three from the junior school, while the remaining three from the senior school, the winner for the senior class will become principal of the school for one day, cash prize and other educational items will also be given to the winner,” Suara said.

Read Also : ‘How book festival improved reading culture’

He called on stakeholders in education sector to support the initiative which is a global campaign, saying ‘there no way you will read that will not occupy your mind with positive thoughts, an ideal mind is the devil workshop.’

The Vice President of the alumni association, Gafar Ojetola lamented that curriculum in schools have become obsolete and don’t meet up with global standard.

He said they should be regigged, calling on government to invest more on education because no nation can be great beyond it’s standard of education

The principal of Ibadan Grammar School, Gbenga Oladejo said the competition was borne out of Ogungbadero’s passion towards educational development of students in the school.

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Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, should not be blamed for candidates who were not able to register for its online screening and change of institution.

This was the position of the university’s Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Ademola Adekoya.

This followed complaints by intending candidates at the weekend that they were unable to register as the portal was  shut.

The  screening ran for 25 days. It was done last month ( October 4- 25).

In a telephone chat with The Nation, Adekoya said the portal closed on deadline day having advertised earlier in national dailies to announce the commencement of the online screening and change of institution.

Read Also: LASU VC seeks better pay for teachers

He blamed candidates for not registering early enough, adding that they were given prior notice on closing date.

He said: “The management of LASU advertised the screening and change of institution early in national dailies. It is not the fault of management. Students/ candidates did not register early enough. It closed last week and they were given prior notice on closing date.”

When asked of possible extension or re-opening of the portal, Adekoya noted that it was at the discretion of management.

“As per extension, management may be magnanimous to give an extension, it is at its discretion. But, I can’t state categorically if management would extend it,” he said.

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Connak Foundation, has awarded full scholarship to 100 students in Junior Secondary Schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mark its 10th anniversary.

The beneficiaries of the scholarship award are students from nine (9) public Junior Secondary Schools across the six area councils, selected through the Stay-In-School Programme of the NGO, as approved by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) management.

According to a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mrs Carol Emeka Sunday, the scholarship programme is one of five thematic areas through which the organization promotes sustainable development and global citizenship.

She said the initiative, which was launched in 2012, with only 10 students, has about 300 beneficiary students enrolled in the scheme in secondary and tertiary education levels.

“This laudable effort of the foundation follows the vision of the Founder, Mr. Ken Nnamdi Ukeagu: to provide humanitarian support to the people that need it the most and build capacity to improve economic outcomes.

“The Foundation’s aim is to promote educational development within low-income communities and increase literacy and numeracy skills of indigent children. The ‘Stay-In-School’ initiative would ease the financial burden of accessing basic education faced by students from low-income families, by providing financial support needed to guarantee their continuous learning and educational development.

“With the present economic downturn, many indigent families are unable to cope with the cost for basic education, thus putting school-age children at risk of dropping out.

“The ‘Stay-InSchool’ initiative contributes to the global action in education for sustainable development, promotes lifelong learning opportunities, and reduces the number of school-age children dropping out of school.

“The pilot phase of the program carried out in FCT had the approval of the Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB). For the pioneer 100 beneficiaries of the program, one would consider them most fortunate as the Foundation paid up all outstanding debts at their various schools, disbursed funds to cover fees for the current academic session and provided needed educational materials to keep them in school.

“The full scholarship package covers all school charges and sundry fees, and provides educational materials such as textbooks, notebooks, uniform, socks, sandals, and school bags). In addition, the boarding fees for eight (8) visually impaired students at the Junior Secondary School, Kwali were also paid”, the statement said.

The scholarship award was presented to the beneficiaries at their schools, to the delight of their parents who expressed appreciation to Connak Foundation for the timely intervention.

Covenant University CU has been declared the only private university in the league tables, featuring prominently in Business and Economics, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering and Physical Sciences at the just released Times Higher Education 2023 Subject Rankings.  

Analysis of the ranking showed that Covenant is leading all Nigerian universities on these five subject disciples.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, announced this in a statement in Abuja..

He said it was a cheery news for varsities in Nigeria on the heels of the impressive ranking of 12 Nigerian universities in the World Universities Rankings published in October where Covenant University was ranked among the top three, by Times Higher Education (THE).

Read Also: 216 students bag 1st Class degrees at Covenant University

According to the former Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC): “No State University is on the league tables. The Federal Universities with impressive rankings are University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, University of Ilorin, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Bayero University Kano, and University of Benin.” 

Okebukola, who is also a member of the International Advisory Board of Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said: “In the 2022 Rankings, only five Nigerian Universities featured in four Subject Rankings.” He noted that in the 2023 Rankings, 48 Nigerian Universities are cumulatively listed among the World’s Best in 11 subjects/disciplines. 

Details of Covenant’s Subjects and Ranks include Business and Economics (401-500); Social Sciences (251-300); Computer Science (401-500); Engineering (401-500) and Physical Sciences (401-500).  

The general position of all ranked Universities in the 2023 Times Higher Education Subject Rankings as conveyed by Okebukola is: Arts and Humanities (University of Nigeria Nsukka=601+); Business and Economics (Covenant University=401-500; University of Lagos=501-600; Obafemi Awolowo University=601-800; University of Nigeria Nsukka=801+); Education (University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka=501-600); Law (University of Nigeria Nsukka=251+); Social Sciences (Covenant University=251-300; University of Lagos=401-500; University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka=601-800; University of Ilorin and Obafemi Awolowo University=801+); Computer Science (Covenant University=401-500); Engineering (Covenant University=401-500; Federal University of Technology Akure and University of Ilorin=601-800; University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=1000+); Clinical and Health (University of Lagos=151-175; University of Ibadan=201-250; University of Nigeria Nsukka=501-600; Bayero University Kano, University of Benin and Obafemi Awolowo University=601-800; University of Ilorin and Nnamdi Azikiwe University=801+); Life Sciences (University of Ilorin=601-800; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University of Technology Akure, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=801-1000); Physical Sciences (Covenant University=401-500; Federal University of Technology Akure and University of Ilorin=501-600; Bayero University Kano=601-800; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and University of Lagos=801-1000; University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=1000+); and Psychology (University of Nigeria Nsukka=301-400).

Vice Chancellor Covenant University, Professor Abiodun Adebayo, attributed the feats to God’s covenant on the institution. 

Plateau Governor Simon Lalong has commissioned school projects executed by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). 

Lalong, who commissioned the classrooms and Educational Resource Hall at the Model primary school in Shehe, Shinko Rayfield and Obasanjo Model primary school Hwolshe respectively, said his administration remains committed to upgrading all school infrastructure and ensuring that both the teachers and students have a great learning experience. 

He said  his administration has consistently provided counterpart funding to enable the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board access equivalent amount of Matching Grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission for nine years spanning from 2013 to 2021.

” So far, a total of over N9.8 billion was provided by the State Government as counterpart funding while about N16.7 billion was accessed and utilized in transforming the educational fortunes of our children in the Basic Education sub-sector. 

Read Also: Lalong signs bill to establish Plateau drugs agency

 “This investment has led to the massive infrastructural development within the sector that is today noticed across the State. A total of 1,528 projects across the State ranging from renovation and construction of classrooms; examination halls; VIP Toilets; and Motorized Boreholes were awarded while about 127,000 Plastic furniture were procured and distributed across the 17 LGEAs.

“The interventions have equally brought about significant improvement in education delivery as well as a rise in school enrollment, literacy and numeracy skills among our learners. No wonder the Universal Learning Solutions Initiative reported a 65% increase in literacy level in lower Public Primary school learners in the State this year alone.

“So far, over 10,000  teachers from the Early Child Care Development Education, Primary and Junior Secondary Schools have been trained to further raise the literacy skills of the teaching population of our schools,” the Governor said. 

•Students, union members angry

The seven-day strike action called by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) flopped woefully yesterday as majority of members ignored the call.

They were at their duty posts either on the main campus or the  Mawuko campus for pre-degree students.

The congress was called to push for the promotion of Mr. Ishaq Odunjo, who failed promotion interviews and test in a recently conducted exercise, using the instrumentality of strike by the union. Mr. Odunjo, former NASU-FUNAAB Chairman, is a national executive.

The Executives of the university’s students union and those at the state level stood by the university’s management as demonstrated by their massive presence to give solidarity support.

They warned that the strike would be resisted as it was resisted since Monday. They described it as inhuman and wicked.

NASU, in an earlier correspondence by its National Assistant Secretary, Damola Adelekun, informed the university’s management that it was directing NASU-FUNAAB to go on a seven-day strike to demand the promotion of Odunjo and reversal of a council decision on a disciplinary matter concerning four of its members. Furthermore, it wanted the management to take a decision on a matter already in the Appeal Court in Ibadan

The management, in a swift reaction, condemned the planned strike, describing it as ill-informed because the union did not follow the stipulated procedure established in labour laws and university regulations.

Speaking, a NASU member, Mr. Ajani Yomibo, condemned the strike, pointing out that they can never be a party to an exercise selfishly called by two leaders of the union and their foot soldiers, who have already turned the local branch to their private enterprise.

Fielding questions from reporters, the President of FUNAAB Students Union, Comrade Seyi Ale, wondered why any union will be calling for strike when the students are just returning from an eight-month strike.

He noted that there were many other ways apart from strike through which NASU can seek redress describing the exercise as anti-student and inimical to the good works of the vice chancellor, the relative peace on campus and development of the university in general.

Corroborating him, the Comrade Bestman Okejiafor, President, Progressive Students Movement of Nigeria and Comrade Segun Elvis, Deputy Senate President, NANS fumed at the strike action called by NASU, saying “enough is enough”.

Executives of NASU FUNAAB Branch could not be reached for comments when contacted.

With the recent appointment of Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as vice chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, and with women occupying top management positions, the university comes across as the most gender-friendly institution in the country. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports.

Akin to what obtained in the Banking industry some years back, when boards of popular banks appointed women as Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers, universities are toeing the same line. Particularly, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), which recently appointed Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as it first female vice chancellor. Before then, Lagos State University (LASU) had appointed Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as its vice chancellor in September last year.

In the past, women were at a disadvantage. But the narrative is fast changing. They are becoming stalwarts through determination, dedication and vision. Little wonder experts are claiming that gender equality is vital to nation-building and development.

Nevertheless, from University of Benin’s Prof. Lillian Salami to University of Calabar’s Prof. Florence Obi, it is not out of place to say women are pulling their weight in the academia.

With Ogunsola’s appointment and five women constituting UNILAG’s management team, the university comes across as the nation’s most gender-friendly higher institution. It has more women in top management positions.

They  include: Deputy Vice Chancellor – Development Services,  Prof. Ayodele Victoria Atsenuwa; Deputy Vice  Chancellor – Academics and Research, Prof. Bolanle Olufunmilayo Oboh; University Librarian, Prof. Yetunde  Zaid  and Bursar, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Yetunde Adekunle, who was appointed on October 6, 2022.

In 2017, she was appointed the first Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services) and she championed the hosting of the first ever UNILAG International Week.

Between August and September 2020, when the council-management crisis engulfed the institution,  Ogunsola was charged with calming the storm by the UNILAG Senate. She was the first female Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution. Eventually when she was named as Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe’s successor, it didn’t come as a surprise to many.

Ogunsola, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, is a specialist in disease control with emphasis on HIV/AIDS. Her research interest is on regulation and management of viral diseases, especially HIV. She is the principal investigator at AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria at the University of Lagos.

Atsenuwa, who was elected March 29, 2021, is a Professor of Public Law at the Faculty of Law. Her teaching and research interests are broad and include Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, Human Rights Law, Gender and the Law, Law and Religion as well as Health and Migration Law.

In  legal academia, she is respected for not only closing the gap between academics and legal practice, but for her efforts at introducing more development-oriented law degree programmes in terms of content and teaching methodologies.

She is also committed to the advancement of sustainable development in Africa through her leadership engagements. A member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), she has served on the boards of several institutions and organisations, including the Legal Research and Resource Development Centre, Partnership for Justice, Girls’ Power Initiative, among others.

Oboh is a professor of genetics. She was appointed on March 3, 2022.   A biologist and plant scientist by training, she is a specialist in the biodiversity studies of local vegetables, tree crops and small ruminants, especially goats.

In 1996, Zaid began her career as a Librarian (Corps Member) at UNILAG Library. After her National Youth Service, she left.

Thereafter, she returned and has served in various capacities at the University of Lagos Library. She served as the university’s Head of Cataloguing Section (2008 – 2010), Research & Bibliographic Department (2010 – 2011), and Head, Reader’s Services Department (2012 – 2019), before she was appointed the librarian in 2019.

Adekunle, the new bursar, was appointed at a meeting of the Governing Council on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Her appointment will be for five years with effect from Thursday, November 3, 2022.

She has served the university in various capacities to which she brought her wealth of experience and expertise to bear. She has been the Bursar’s Representative on the Medical Centre Board, the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation, Maternity and Laboratory Centre Board, the University Examination Board, and Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre Board.

She served as a member of the Committee on the Review of Senior Staff Conditions of Service, a member of the Scholarship, Loans, and Welfare Committee, and as chairman of the Bursary Welfare Committee.

The emergence of women at the upper echelon of management in UNILAG reinforces the view that given an enabling environment in a male-dominated world, women can compete very well with men and perform excellently for the betterment of the nation and humanity.

Old Students of Unity School, Agbarho (USA), Ughelli-North Local Government Area of Delta State have unveiled three projects in the school.

The projects, which were renovattions by USAOSA members, include the administration building, a block of four-classrooms and a block of 12-toilets for use of male and female students during school hours.

At the unveiling event, the Commissioner for Secondary Education in Delta Slate, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, lauded USAOSA for contributing to infrastructural growth in the school.

She lauded the donation as example of private sector partnering with government.

She said the projects would go a long way in improving study conditions of the students. She appealed to the students and their parents to ensure that they put the facilities to good use and guard against vandalising them.

The President of USAOSA, Mr. Dan Agbofode, noted that the intervention projects would lay the foundation for enduring “collaborative partnership with the association, the Delta State Government, Agbarho community, the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA), concerned private sector organisations and staff and students of the school”.

Agbofode appreciated the members of the association, particularly those who contributed to renovation of the projects.

He thanked Chevron for consistent support for members of the association, who are its employees, to implement projects in the’ school.