Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has revealed that 239 first-class graduates employed as lecturers left the institution between 2015 and 2022 due to poor pay and working conditions.
Speaking at The PUNCH Forum in Lagos, themed “Innovative Funding of Functional Education in the Digital Age,”Ogundipe said UNILAG recruited 256 first-class graduates during the period, but by October 2023, only 17 remained.
Education Sector at Risk
Ogundipe warned that without urgent reforms, Nigerian universities may, in the next decade, face two crises:
- Women dominating university staff, similar to trends in secondary schools.
- Poorly qualified candidates flooding postgraduate programmes.
He linked this to chronic underfunding, noting that federal and state allocations to education have remained below 10% of budgets, far short of UNESCO’s 15–26% recommendation.
Call for Better Funding
The ex-VC urged lawmakers to make it mandatory for first-generation universities to receive at least ₦1 billion annuallyto address decayed infrastructure. He stressed that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) should support research, not basic survival.
Innovative Funding Solutions
Ogundipe, now Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, proposed new funding strategies beyond government allocations, including:
- Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure.
- Alumni endowments and philanthropy.
- Education bonds and diaspora investments.
- Corporate donations tied to research and skills development.
- Debt swaps and EdTech financing.
He stressed that the private sector must view education investment not only as corporate social responsibility but also as a long-term strategy to build future talent and markets.
Nigeria’s Education Crisis
Nigeria currently has the highest number of out-of-school children globally, estimated at 10–22 million. Over 60% of primary school funding goes to teacher salaries, leaving little for capital development.
Ogundipe concluded by urging alumni, civil society, faith-based organisations, and donor agencies to contribute actively, while also challenging Nigerians to view education as a “sacred trust” that must be preserved for future generations.
