The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has identified some of the problems hindering the progress and performance of Nigerian universities in the global ranking of world universities.
Speaking at a workshop for public universities on Monday, in Lagos, the Executive Secretary, TETfund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, said over-politisation, mediocrity, frequent strike were some of the reasons for the poor global ranking of Nigerian varsities.
The two-day workshop which had Vice-Chancellors from the Southern part of Nigeria was titled, ‘Requirement for Strengthening Nigerian Universities for Higher Global Ranking.’
Bogoro said, “Some of the problems identified as hindering the progress and performance of Nigerian Universities in the global ranking of world universities include poor investment by some arm of government in the development of universities; decaying infrastructure; corruption in the public university system. The high number of mushroom universities not worthy of status; poor attitude of Nigerian lecturers to teaching and research. Large numbers of students at the undergraduate level and limited financial and physical resources. Low research collaboration; Low performance on international linkages and collaborations and loss in quality of faculty due to Brain drain of lecturers and brilliant students to foreign institutions.”
Bogoro observed that for Nigeria to be competitive, Nigerian universities must as a matter of urgency put strong measures in place to ensure that the following are strictly observed, “All lecturers must aim to have a Doctorate of Philosophy as an essential requirement for teaching and research, Universities must develop strong democratic leadership in their administration and they must develop collaborative association with industries, foreign universities, linkages, and donor agencies in multiple capacities that increase funding for research, teaching and other essential facilities.”
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Chris Mayaki, said the Commission had never ranked any university in Nigeria as reported in some news reports.
He added that NUC aligned itself with the laudable effort of TETfund towards changing the global ranking of Nigerian Universities.
The chairman BoT, TETfund, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, said the performance of Nigerian Universities still remained far below expectations.
© IbomInkNews
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