Nigeria’s Higher Education at a Crossroads: The urgent need for sustainable funding and strategic expansion, by Dr Tukur Madu Yemi
Nigeria’s higher education system, a vital engine for national progress, now faces a critical juncture. As a distinguished academic at the Federal University of Kashere in Gombe, I urge the Federal Government to reassess its approach to expanding the country’s tertiary institutions. An impassioned letter to the Honourable Minister of Education outlines the urgent need for sustainable funding and strategic growth as unchecked proliferation of universities without adequate resources could undermine the nation’s academic standards.
With over two decades of experience in Nigeria’s educational landscape, I have observed firsthand how rapid expansion—devoid of sufficient financial backing—has led to crumbling infrastructure, inadequate research support, and a decline in the quality of education. Without proper planning and resourcing, we risk producing graduates who are not equipped to thrive in the global economy.
The Challenge of Unchecked Expansion
Successive administrations have approved numerous new universities without securing corresponding budgetary support. During former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, several federal institutions were established, including the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare in Bauchi State (2021) and the Federal University of Transportation, Daura in Katsina State (2023). This trend extended to private universities, with establishments such as Al-Ansar University in Borno State, Khadija University in Jigawa State, and Mewar International University in Nasarawa State receiving approvals in the same period.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the momentum continues with new institutions like the Federal University of Technology in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, and the Federal University of Agricultural Science and Extension in Mubi, Adamawa State coming online. Moreover, additional universities remain on the horizon as the government actively pursues plans to convert several existing higher education institutions into full-fledged universities—a dual strategy that further intensifies the financial and administrative pressures on the sector.
A Call for Policy Reforms
To secure a sustainable future for Nigeria’s higher education, I recommend a series of strategic policy measures:
1. Prioritise Funding for Existing Universities – Ensure that established institutions receive the necessary investment for infrastructure, research initiatives, and staff welfare.
2. Enhance Academic Staffing and Research Capabilities – Implement competitive salary structures and improved working conditions to retain quality lecturers and counter the brain drain.
3. Adopt a Strategic Approach to Expansion – Carry out comprehensive feasibility studies before approving new universities to guarantee long-term viability.
4. Strengthen Governance and Accountability – Improve transparency in financial management to prevent misappropriation of funds and optimize resource utilization.
5. Diversify Higher Education Pathways – Bolster polytechnics, vocational training centres, and other alternative education avenues to alleviate pressure on traditional universities.
6. Reconfigure and Convert Existing Institutions – Consider integrating some of the newly approved universities as satellite campuses of existing institutions and explore converting established colleges and polytechnics into full-fledged universities to streamline costs and enhance administrative efficiency.
Learning from International Best Practices
Reflecting on my doctoral studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)—an institution celebrated for its 50-year legacy of excellence, it is worthy to note that UUM’s robust infrastructure, sustained funding, and superior academic quality offer a valuable model for Nigeria, emulating such systems through consolidation and strategic reinforcement of existing universities would be far more effective than pursuing unchecked expansion.
Conclusion: A National Imperative
The future prosperity of Nigeria hinges on the strength and quality of its higher education system. Without urgent reforms, the country risks saturating its educational landscape with under-resourced institutions that fail to meet global academic and research standards. He calls on the Federal Government to pivot from expansion for its own sake toward cultivating a research-driven, well-funded, and strategically managed university system capable of propelling Nigeria onto the global stage.
As voices from across the educational sector join the call for reform, the message is clear: Nigeria must act decisively to safeguard the future of its higher education—and, by extension, its national development.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
