This news was culled from the vanguard Nigeria.

NUC

National Universities Commission NUC)

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, has called on the federal government to adequately fund tertiary education in Nigeria.

Rasheed made the demand at the 2023 National Reunion Conference of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA), at the Obafemi Awolowo University, on Saturday, in Ile Ife.

Rasheed’s lecture was titled; “Funding of tertiary education in Nigeria: Issues, trend and opportunities”.

The NUC boss, who was represented by Prof. Shehu Ado, a Consultant to the school regulatory body, said that the major issues affecting Tertiary Education is gross underfunding which affects teaching, learning and research.

According to him, tertiary education is grossly underfunded and government needs enough money to inject into the system.

Underfunding, he said, is one of the bane of education development which has contributed to the low standard of education in the country.

“The universities are producing graduates who lack skills for employment and creative ability. There is need for universities to generate income to complement government efforts. The sector cannot be funded alone by government.

“There is an urgent need to invest in university education, urging that state and private sectors should invest in the sector for national development. The university management also needs to be more prudent in their spending.

“Brain drain in our university system is caused by non-conductive learning and teaching environment and some other issues and these need to be corrected,” he stated.

According to him, in the past, university teachers did well as the Naira was strong and good but today it is not.

He stated further that inadequate funding, obsolete equipment, and constant disruption of academic calendar have been described as part of the challenges facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary said while government needs to increase funding, institutions should endeavour to identify other areas where they could get funds to continue their works.

“I was surprised when a Youth Corper was asked to give the full meaning of NYSC and he couldn’t. This exemplified the deteriorating state and quality of graduates produced by our universities.

“Amongst other issues affecting our Tertiary Education is archaic curriculum which ought to be redesigned by injecting realities of time as the world is moving on a rapid note, lack of skilled workers, graduate with no skill and self confidence.

Also, Malam Yusuf Ali, SAN, who Chaired the occasion, said that government alone cannot fund tertiary education.