The National Assembly’s recent push to create over 200 new universities in Nigeria has raised concerns about the country’s already strained higher education system.
Nigeria has 278 universities, consisting of 64 federal, 67 state, and 147 private institutions.
Despite this, there is a significant need for more universities to meet the growing demand for higher education, as stated by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
With a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria lags behind countries like Indonesia, which has approximately 2,000 universities, and other nations such as Russia, Brazil, and India, which have hundreds of thousands of institutions.
Nigeria’s existing universities are struggling with inadequate infrastructure and a severe shortage of faculty members.
Despite over 1.5 million candidates applying for admission annually, many Nigerian universities are unable to accommodate more students due to inadequate facilities.
Private universities, in particular, have limited enrolment, with many having fewer than 1,000 undergraduate students.
This year, only about 875,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate programs nationwide.
The country’s education sector is also hindered by poor funding, with only 7.3% of the 2025 federal budget allocated to education, far below the United Nations’ recommendation.
Factors like brain drain and poor working conditions exacerbate the shortage of qualified lecturers.
Institutions such as the University of Lagos and the University of Uyo have experienced a significant exodus of lecturers to better opportunities abroad.
For example, the Federal University in Gusau, Zamfara, needs 1,000 more lecturers to meet its demands.
Instead of creating new universities, many Nigerians believe that the National Assembly should prioritise strengthening the existing institutions.
Improving infrastructure, building research labs, and recruiting highly qualified lecturers should be the top priorities to improve the quality of education and make Nigerian universities more competitive internationally.
Despite these challenges, the Nigerian government continues to approve new universities.
Recently, President Bola Tinubu signed bills to establish the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Osun State and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in Ekiti State.
In addition, 11 private universities were approved, and a previously private university in Southern Kaduna was converted into a federal institution.
The education sector plays a crucial role in the development of any nation, and without substantial investment in its infrastructure and workforce, Nigeria risks continuing its struggle with poor-quality education.
Lawmakers should focus on increasing the funding for education, particularly in terms of infrastructure and faculty development, before adding more universities to the mix. This would ensure that existing institutions can deliver the high-quality education necessary to shape the country’s future workforce.
Leave feedback about this