By;
Dr. Abdulkareem Onakoya (PhD, FNIMC),
Department of Political Science,
Lagos State University of Education,
Oto-Ijanikin (Epe Campus),
Lagos, Nigeria.
Email: onakoyaa@lasued.edu.ng
Tel: 08026621805.
29th April, 2023.
Nigeria is a nation richly blessed with brilliant individuals who have registered their names in various sectors and endeavours across the globe.
It could be very ridiculous and sarcastic sometimes when decadence and doldrums are attached to the system of education the government ‘runs’ and projects in as against the popular culture of the country. Being the so called ‘Giant of Africa’, we should lead in almost all facets while others follow at a distant space to say the least.
Going down the memory lane, the nation became an entity in 1914 through the amalgamation of the two protectorates – Northern and Southern to among other things bring ‘administrative convenience’ to the British rule whose major focus was to annex and channel the resources of the country to better their lots (Onakoya, 2021).
During that era also, the number of Europeans in different posts in Nigeria, not only the senior positions, but also in the junior ranks was very large and that situation could not continue indefinitely. Indeed, the British personnel were performing duties which already in other African countries were being performed by Africans. The need to establish a ‘Higher College’ to cater for the needs became imperative. Hence, the Yaba Higher College came on board in 1934 under Mr. E. R Hussey, the Country’s Colonial Director of Education.
In 1943, the British government set up an Asquith Commission to consider among other things the principles which should guide the promotion of higher education, learning, research and development of universities in the country. The report of the committee was considered and subsequently, in 1947, Dr. Kenneth Mellanby of the University of Cambridge, England was seconded and appointed the Principal of the University College, Ibadan.
The first thing he noticed was the ‘no college, no building, no student, no staff, no governing body’ matter and the only physically identifiable aspect of the university was his person. That prompted him to as a matter of urgency deployed the staff and students of the Yaba Higher College to the university as an affiliate of the University of London. Was that meant was that, graduates of the institution would be awarded the certificate of the University of London.
A lot of Nigerian nationalists criticised the status of the institution. Notably, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe during a plenary at the Federal House of Representatives in 1949 called it “a million dollar baby” due to what he termed the university’s “ financial irresponsibility”. That was also because of the overt and colonial orientation in staffing and academic dependency.
The efforts of the nationalist and some other African leaders who wanted ‘full-fledged’ African University which led to the birth of the University of Nigeria, Nzukka in 1960 and the Sir Eric Ashby’s commission whose recommendations saw the establishment of the Ahmadu Bello University (North), University of Lagos (Capital) and University of Ife (West) in 1962 became unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian University System.
Over the years, the number of universities in Nigeria keep increasing and still not adequate to meet up with the demands of the populace.
According to the data available, the number of accredited universities in the country as at today is put at 170 with the following proportions; Federal – 43, States – 48 and Privates – 79 (NUC, 2021).
Meanwhile, between 1999 and 2020, the admission rate on percentage of qualified candidates fluctuated between 18.8% and 6.7%. (NUC, 2021). The irony of having so many universities and still recording low enrolment was and still being attributed to universities ‘low carrying capacities’. By this, it is meant that the number of students to be admitted is to be determined by the on available adequate teaching-learning facilities, infrastructure and standard student-teacher ratio.
A lot of factors have tremendously attacked the values and right-placement of standards in the education sector. The range seems unending and alarming sometimes.
The issue of inadequate funding and provision of necessary assistance to push forth the industry keeps reoccurring. Budgetary allocations and spendings have also dropped. Study reveals that an abysmally poor funding of the universities between 1999 and 2022 where they received less than 45% of their respective estimates each year.
It is worthy to mention that since 1999 also, education as a sector has never exceeded 13% of the total annual appropriation (Olawale, 2022). This will definitely affect spendings and expenditures in our ivory towers.
There is need to address the issue of brain-drain and ‘Japa level’ in our universities. The ASUU Chairman, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke in an exclusive interview by Emmanuel Ojo of the Punch Newspaper reported on the 28th April, 2023 accused the government of deliberately creating crisis in our citadels of learning by not addressing necessary issues raised by the university dons and not abiding by the agreement reached so far.
According to him, if a Nigerian Professor earns as low as N400,000 with the work loads compared to a Representative at the National Assembly who goes home with a whooping amount of about N10m, how can the best brains not leave for ‘greener pastures’ except those who have the interest of the nation at hearts.
He also bemoaned the sectionalism in the 40% increment in the salaries of the federal government workers. This according to him will not only create dichotomy in the civil service but also promote the incessant ‘run-away’ syndrome among young lecturers and the ‘fourth category’ professors in the system.
The instability in the calendar of our universities is causing a lot of damages to the system as well. Before 1980, Nigerian universities operated a relatively stable academic calendar (Onakoya, 2020).
With time, a downward pressure on staff salaries, debilitating working conditions, unimaginable students welfare affairs etc have constrained the staff and students to embark upon strikes. In 1981, 1983, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017/18, 2021 and 2022, almost all the unions in the university system were at one point involved in a strike to press home their demands not limited to conditions of service, salary adjustment, earned allowances, revitalisations, IPPIS etc.
They say, ‘when two elephants fight, the grasses suffer’. The toll is always on the innocent students and their parents who cannot afford private institutions and foreign education.
It is hightime the incoming administration is called to cognition and urged to look inwardly in order to make positive changes in the already devastated corridor of the education industry.
It is a known fact that despite all pleas and appeals, the outgoing government have turned their deaf ears unto the cries of the poor masses.
If a mandatory five-year long service is being proposed to our medical graduates, a ‘no-schooling-abroad’ bill for the children of the Nigerian politicians should be sponsored and followed to the logical end (presidential assent).
OUR UNIVERSITIES, OUR ASSETS !!!