As soon as extra, Nigerians are jolted by the cruel actuality of the deteriorating state of the nation’s universities. In line with the Instances Increased Training (THE) international rankings, not one of many nation’s 274 universities made it to the highest 800 listing. This marks the third consecutive yr Nigerian universities have fallen within the rankings, with solely Covenant College within the high 1,000.
The rankings measure universities on key indicators like analysis, educating, and impression. For educating, the main focus is on the educational surroundings, whereas analysis high quality is judged by citations, excellence, and affect. When THE launched the rankings just lately, high establishments like Ahmadu Bello College, the College of Lagos, the College of Nigeria Nsukka, and the College of Ibadan couldn’t clinch the highest 1,000 spots.
No Surprises Right here
This rating comes as no shock, particularly with the Tutorial Employees Union of Universities (ASUU) repeatedly highlighting the neglect of universities. Underfunding, low lecturer pay, and the shortage of a conducive studying surroundings are simply a few of the challenges that college academics have repeatedly complained about. ASUU’s frequent strikes demanding higher situations underscore their frustration. As you learn this, ASUU has issued a brand new ultimatum for one more strike.
It’s unrealistic to count on a Nigerian public college to rank within the high 500 when college academics have been in a protracted wrestle with the federal government since 2009, battling for the implementation of an settlement that the federal government voluntarily signed.
In 2009, ASUU and the Nigerian authorities reached an settlement masking college situations, funding, autonomy, and educational freedom. The deal goals to reverse the decline within the college schooling system, stem the mind drain by bettering workers remuneration, and provides universities the independence wanted for actual progress.
But, regardless of a renegotiation in 2021, ASUU continues to be combating for its full implementation, having gone on strike greater than seven occasions since then. The strikes have disrupted schooling, delayed college students’ commencement and eroded confidence within the system. The resultant impact is a rising exodus to overseas universities, with many Nigerians choosing low-quality establishments in neighbouring international locations simply to make sure uninterrupted examine. The federal government simply arrange one other committee to renegotiate the settlement for one more time.
For universities to thrive, they need to take pleasure in educational freedom and autonomy. They need to have management over what they train and analysis and the liberty to manipulate themselves internally.
With out prevaricating, there is no such thing as a substitute for true educational freedom and monetary autonomy if we would like a college system that may ship high quality educating and analysis and drive financial progress. Universities have a vital function in shaping nationwide improvement, and this could solely be potential below an environment the place they’re assured autonomy.
In Nigeria, our establishments lack the autonomy to make impartial selections and are caught in a cycle of stagnation. This lack of autonomy is holding again analysis and studying, and the implications are mirrored in Nigeria’s poor international rankings.
Amount With out High quality
Nigeria at present has 274 universities—149 personal, 63 state-owned, and 62 run by the federal authorities. Nevertheless, these establishments face vital challenges, together with outdated infrastructure, a scarcity of studying gear, and the continued japa syndrome, the place lecturers depart the nation for higher alternatives, depleting the educating workforce.
With poor infrastructure and low workers pay, it’s no marvel Nigerian universities rank so poorly. Nevertheless, this solely displays the deeper subject: lack of dedication to prioritise schooling.
For example, the 2024 nationwide price range allocates lower than 7% to schooling, far under UNESCO’s advisable 15-20%. This pattern of poor funding didn’t begin with the present administration. All through President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in workplace, the schooling price range hovered between 6 and eight per cent.
From 2016 to 2023, Nigeria’s schooling price range fluctuated nominally and as a proportion of the whole price range. In 2016, N369.6 billion, or 7.9 per cent, was allotted to schooling; N550.5 billion, or 7.4per cent, in 2017; N605.8 billion, or 7.04 per cent, in 2018; and N620.5 billion, or 7.05 per cent, in 2019. The figures continued to range: N671.07 billion, or 6.7 per cent, in 2020; N742.5 billion, or 5.68 per cent, in 2021; N1.18 trillion, or 7 per cent, in 2022. The best allocation got here in 2023, with 8.8 per cent. The state of affairs is even worse on the state degree, the place a big hole exists between allotted funds and what’s launched.
Extra Universities?
Regardless of these challenges, political leaders appear to assume that creating extra universities is the reply. At the moment, over 51 payments search to ascertain new federal universities. These vary from agriculture universities to specialised establishments for sports activities, languages, and well being sciences.
These payments embody these for the institution of the Federal College of Training, Numan, Adamawa State; Federal College of Agriculture, Kabba; Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal College of Nigerian Languages, Aba; Ibile Entrepreneur College, Lagos; Federal College of Commerce and Mentorship Research, Isiala Mbano; Federal College of Know-how and, Federal College of Know-how, Kaduna
Different new varsities being contemplated even when the federal authorities has failed in guaranteeing efficient funding of the prevailing ones embody the Federal College of Medical and Well being Sciences, Bende, Abia State; Federal College of Sports activities, Karfi, Kano; Federal College of Data and Communication Know-how, Lagos; Federal College of Well being Science, Kwankwaso, Kano State; Federal College of Science and Know-how Remo, Ogun State; Federal College of Agriculture, Ute Okpa, Delta State; Federal College of Agriculture, Atomkpe Inamite, Cross Rivers State; Federal College of Oil and Gasoline Know-how, Okpai, Delta State; Federal College of Biomedical Sciences Oju, Benue State Agada; and Federal College of Environmental Science, Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State.
Whereas most of those payments are on the first studying stage, a handful have handed the second studying, with some handed and awaiting presidential assent.
Nevertheless, none of those payments seems to be patronising like Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu’s transfer to ascertain Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal College of Nigerian Languages right now of development in science and expertise, with a renewed emphasis on synthetic intelligence.
Kalu took his ardour for attracting the president’s consideration and probably admiration to a really ridiculous degree by looking for to call the college after PBAT. This comes at a time when Nigerians, together with residents of his Abia state, are going through critical hardship occasioned by PBAT’s ill-thought-out insurance policies.
Nevertheless, including extra universities is not going to clear up the elemental issues. With out correct funding, autonomy, and educational freedom, even a thousand extra universities is not going to change the dismal state of Nigerian schooling.
As Jigawa Mourns
The tragedy that befell Jigawa state, the place over 100 individuals died following a tanker explosion in Taura Native Authorities Space, is undeniably a catastrophe of giant proportions. With round 110 confirmed lifeless and a minimum of 55 others struggling numerous levels of accidents, Jigawa is little doubt in a mourning temper. It’s disheartening that the explosion occurred as residents had been making an attempt to scoop gasoline from the overturned tanker.
It’s also disheartening that warnings to keep away from such hazardous websites usually go unheeded. This devastating incident comes lower than a month after one other explosion claimed the lives of about 48 folks following a collision between a gasoline tanker and one other truck in Niger State. Might Allah grant those that perished within the explosion Aljannat Firdaus. Nevertheless, as Jigawa and the nation mourn, it’s crucial that we intensify efforts to teach and urge folks to avoid the websites of such disasters.
