Former National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary Abubakar Rasheed has highlighted the need for increased funding and autonomy in Nigeria’s public universities to maintain quality and drive national development.
Rasheed, who also served as Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, spoke during the 42nd convocation lecture at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on Friday. He described public universities as “public goods” that contribute to social mobility, democratic culture, and national integration.
He said prolonged underfunding, politicisation, and commercialisation were undermining their role, warning that education risked becoming a commodity accessible only to the wealthy. “Even in this crisis, public universities remain irreplaceable in Nigeria’s development project,” Rasheed added.
Highlighting their social function, he noted that universities provide spaces where students from diverse backgrounds interact, debate, and shape the national consciousness. He also stressed the importance of institutional autonomy, describing it as essential for intellectual freedom, innovation, and excellence, and said universities should not operate as extensions of political offices.
Rasheed suggested that the government allocate at least 5% of its annual budget to universities for teaching, research, infrastructure, and institutional development, while allowing institutions to diversify revenue through partnerships, consultancy, and competitive grants.
Pro-Chancellor Attahiru Jega and UDUS Vice Chancellor Bashir Garba described the lecture topic, “Future of Public Universities in Nigeria: Between Promise and Precipice,” as timely and relevant.
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