National Universities Commission, NUC, has expressed worries over the rising cases of insecurity on the nation’s university campuses.
This was disclosed by the NUC Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr. Biodun Saliu, while delivering the 7th Annual Registry lecture held at the Elizade University, Ilara- Mokin, Ondo State.
Delivering the lecture titled “The Nigerian University System and its Many Challenges: The Way Forward”, Saliu identified insecurity as a major challenge to the university system.
He pointed that there have been reported cases of security threats on campuses of Nigerian Universities of late.
He said, “A number of Nigerian Universities have experienced so many cases of kidnap and abduction of members of the university community.
“Unfortunately, some academic staff and students have died in the process while others are still missing.
“A few incidences of kidnapping have also been reported in some universities in the North. And virtually in all parts of the country.
“The rising insecurity in the country, which also affects our universities, is hindering teaching and research activities. And undoubtedly, the general well-being of the institution.”
The Deputy Executive Secretary, further listed some of the challenges faced by the Nigerian university system to include inadequate funding and infrastructural deficits. Others, he stated are staffing deficit, which included brain drain syndrome, poor remuneration, inability to prioritize curriculum re- engineering and relevance. He also mentioned governance and administrative issues.
Saliu also pointed to other challenges facing the university to include poor research and development, weak university-industry linkages and collaborations. He also, listed undue interference by some professional bodies, unstable academic calendar, inadequate access, and proliferation of illegal degree-awarding institution.
The NUC Deputy Executive Secretary also mentioned weak National Universities Commission laws and disregard to National Universities Commission regulations as major challenges to the university system.
He, however, expressed optimism, because, he said, the challenges as tough as they appear, are not insurmountable.
As a way forward, Saliu called for improved funding and strengthening of the National Universities Commission by law. He also stated that timely curriculum re-engineering and review are important to the growth of the university system.
He further added that timely reviews of quality assurance instruments by the National Universities Commission and strategic planning to set priorities are key.
The NUC Deputy Executive Secretary added that, “there should be improved budgetary allocation and release to public universities.
He, therefore, called for an improved subvention for private universities by their owners.
Saliu, however, warned that private university owners should stop seeing their universities as profit making ventures. He, urged them to persevere for at least the first 10 years of their commencement of academic activities.
According to him “More qualified academic staff should be employed in the universities based on areas of needs. He, therefore, called for the provision of more infrastructural facilities in all the higher institutions.
He also called for the expansion of access to university education and improved content delivery of programmes. These, he said, could done through the utilization of ICT enabled blended learning.
source: Channels TV
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