My people, a big wahala don burst as Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, the old oga for National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), don yarn some gist wey concern private universities for Naija. E talk say many of dem dey run like say na only profit dem dey find, and that one fit make dem collapse.
Dis talk come from him mouth on Thursday for Abuja during public lecture wey dem organize for Federal Government College (FGC) Warri, as dem dey celebrate their 60 years of existence. With plenty candidates dey prepare for the 2026 UTME and other admission exams, dis matter wan heavy pass us.
Professor Jegede dey vex say na only about 200 universities wey dey now, and the population for Naija dey high like market. “No be say we no get universities o, but the ones wey we get dey struggle to carry students. Some no fit take pass 1,000 or 2,000 students,” he talk. E add say some private universities dey so small, dem no fit gather up to 500 students, and if dem no change their ways, dem fit close down soon.
According to him, some of these private uni owners dey come with the mindset say na quick cash dem go collect. “As dem set am up, dem go dey ask say ‘where the money dey?’” Na wetin am talk. He advise say to run university no be small pikin play, e need long term commitment and patience. “You no fit expect make dem break even within one month o, it go take at least seven to ten years.”
The professor dey also suggest say Naija need to shift towards open and distance learning, say na wetin go fit solve the wahala of higher education demand wey dey grow every day. “Instead of building more schools, we fit set up open universities. Na wetin dis country need now,” he explain.
He come dey compare his own NOUN wey don produce like 750,000 graduates since dem start for 2002/2003, with other universities wey dey rely on face-to-face learning. “You fit imagine say one university dey do more work than plenty universities combined,” he reason. E say we go need like 30 normal universities to match wetin NOUN dey produce.
But e no be only about university matter o, Professor Jegede dey also dey worry about the unity schools wey dey decline, especially the Federal Government Colleges. Insecurity dey make this one harder. Many students no fit go enroll for the school because of this wahala. Global President of FGC World Students Association, Dr Godwin Alo, come join am talk say insecurity dey affect diversity and unity for these schools. E no too dey sweet for dem like before.
Dr Alo emphasize say if them want unity for the schools, dem gatz find solution to this insecurity matter. “No be only for education o, if e no dey secure, we no fit call ourself nation again.” E reason wey make sense, as e dey highlight how dis bad security dey affect student associations all over Naija. If the student numbers dey drop, then the alumni network fit scatter. Na serious level we dey for here.
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