Former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Wande Abimbola, has expressed worry over the weak partnership between Nigerian universities and their alumni.
Speaking during a live interview at the Boiling Point Arena, Abimbola stated that universities in the country have lost much of their past glory due to inadequate funding and a lack of strong alumni involvement. He recalled that during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor in 1989, things were still functional, but within a decade, conditions deteriorated badly.
According to him, both federal and state governments have failed to provide adequate financial support, leaving lecturers and staff struggling to survive on poor wages. He stressed that alumni must do better to complement government funding, as is done in other countries where graduates contribute significantly to their former schools.
Abimbola maintained that without serious funding and active alumni partnerships, Nigerian universities would continue to decline and fail to meet national expectations.
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