An knowledgeable in Ecclesiastical Theology and Human Growth, Prof. Moses Idowu, mentioned solely 21 Nigerian universities have been recognised within the current International Rating, out of a complete of the 274 universities within the nation.
He expressed considerations that the newest international rankings mirrored the misgovernance and maladministration prevalent inside Nigerian universities and the nation as an entire.
Idowu in a web based publish famous that two universities; Covenant College and Landmark College, each affiliated with the Residing Religion Tabernacle and led by Bishop David Oyedepo ranked within the high tiers, particularly Bands A and B.
He additional elaborated that among the many 21 universities recognised within the international rating, 19 have been categorised in Bands B-D, with 15 being federal universities and 4 state universities.
He mentioned, “Listed here are the shocks: no federal or state college made the listing of the highest 1,000 universities, and solely Covenant and Landmark universities from the non-public sector ranked within the first two classes. Of the 21 universities, six are situated within the North, whereas 15 are within the South.
“Within the South, 10 are within the Southwest, three within the Southeast, and two within the South-South. Within the North, three universities are within the Center Belt (North Central) and two within the Northeast.
“Notably, of the three in North Central, Landmark College and the College of Ilorin are located in the identical state, Kwara.”
Idowu acknowledged that amongst Nigeria’s first-generation universities, solely Obafemi Awolowo College and Nsukka didn’t rank in Band B like their counterparts.
Nsukka was positioned in Band C, whereas OAU fell into Band D.
He additional analysed the rankings, stating, “Listed here are the outcomes in accordance with former Government Secretary of the Nationwide Universities Fee, Prof. Peter Okebukola:
“Band A (801-1000): Solely Covenant College made the listing on this class. Band B (1001-1200): 4 universities are included right here: Ahmadu Bello College, College of Ibadan, Landmark College, and College of Lagos.
“Band C (1201-1500): This band includes six universities: two Federal Universities of Know-how (Akure and Minna), Bayero College, and the Universities of Benin, Ilorin, and Nsukka.
“Band D (1501 and beneath): Ten universities made this listing, together with 4 state universities: Lagos State College, Ekiti State College, Ladoke Akintola College of Know-how, and Nnamdi Azikiwe College. Moreover, seven federal universities are included: Federal College of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Federal College of Know-how, Owerri, Obafemi Awolowo College, Federal College Oye-Ekiti, College of Port Harcourt, College of Ilorin, and Usmanu Danfodiyo College, Sokoto.”
Idowu criticised stakeholders who celebrated the rankings, describing it as demeaning {that a} non-public establishment, Covenant College, which had no entry to public funds, was ranked as the very best within the nation.
He identified that out of over 274 universities in Nigeria, just one made the listing of the highest 1,000, categorized as Band-A universities.
“Prof. Okebukola and others who view this consequence as spectacular and worthy of celebration, I don’t. I see this as an emblem of nationwide disgrace, a tragic reflection of the misgovernance and maladministration not solely of our universities however of the Nigerian nation as an entire,” he acknowledged.
“What is especially disheartening is that the one college to make the listing is neither a federal nor a state college, however a personal, mission-based establishment. It receives no taxpayer cash, public funds assist, or alumni backing. It saddens me {that a} non-public group with out entry to public funds is attaining such noteworthy outcomes with its two universities, whereas a first-generation federal college like Ife struggles to compete. Nice Ife, as soon as famend and revered globally, has now turn out to be a Band D college, outperformed by Landmark College, which was established lower than 10 years in the past. I’m particularly disheartened by the state of affairs at Ife as a result of I bear in mind what this college represented within the days when scholarship was the hallmark of upper training. This decline highlights how Nigeria has mismanaged this once-great establishment.”
A senior lecturer and Head of the Division of Mass Communication at Dominican College, Ibadan, Dr Ifeanyi Onyike, suggested that for Nigeria to get issues proper, the federal government should lead by instance and exhibit that overseas certificates weren’t superior to these obtained in Nigeria.
“What I’m emphasising is that past the conversations and workshops we maintain each day, we’d like robust insurance policies to enhance our instructional system. These insurance policies ought to make sure that each authorities and personal corporations prioritise the employment of homegrown graduates.
“Lastly, I consider the federal government ought to step again from the tutorial system, significantly in senior secondary and tertiary training. The federal government has constantly proven an incapability to deal with the tutorial wants of residents at these ranges. At present, college students are out of college on account of a hike in tuition charges, and college students from different federal universities are protesting as effectively.
“Academic subsidies are a vital measure that the Tinubu administration should significantly contemplate, as its actions and inactions have contributed to oldsters struggling to afford their youngsters’s tuition. Nevertheless, if subsidies can’t be carried out, I advocate for the privatisation of all federal universities to allow them to function as worthwhile ventures. Sustaining the established order whereas growing charges will solely profit these exploiting the system and additional hurt the nation.”
One other lecturer within the Division of Microbiology at Adeleke College and the Founding father of Helix Biogen Institute in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, Dr Oladipo Kolawole, for Nigerian universities to attain greater international rankings, a number of methods could possibly be carried out, together with an enchancment in analysis output and high quality.
“Encouraging extra analysis, significantly in STEM fields and the social sciences, can considerably improve rankings. This entails selling innovation, securing funding, and publishing in respected worldwide journals. Universities must also deal with high-impact and collaborative analysis initiatives.
“Moreover, enough funding in training infrastructure by each the federal government and personal sector is essential. Trendy laboratories, libraries, and digital sources improve studying experiences and analysis capabilities.”
He known as for growing worldwide collaboration and trade packages, saying it was one other necessary technique. “Partnering with globally ranked universities for joint analysis initiatives, college exchanges, and worldwide scholar packages can enhance visibility and elevate educational requirements. Recruiting and retaining extremely certified educational workers is important. Offering alternatives for skilled growth and fostering worldwide analysis collaborations can improve instructing high quality and analysis output.”
Kolawole maintained that enhancing the coed expertise was important by emphasising student-centered studying, lowering overcrowded lessons, and enhancing entry to sources can result in higher studying outcomes and total satisfaction, particularly in public universities.
“Digital transformation can be mandatory for modernization. Implementing expertise in instructing, studying, and administration, corresponding to on-line programs and digital libraries—can entice international consideration to Nigerian universities.
“Lastly, universities ought to contemplate specializing in areas of specialization, aiming to turn out to be international leaders in fields corresponding to agriculture, well being sciences, or expertise to enhance visibility and relevance.
“In conclusion, implementing these methods holistically might step by step improve the worldwide rankings of Nigerian universities,” he mentioned.