239 First-class lecturers quit UNILAG within 7 years over poor pay – Ex-VC

-SEB EDITORIAL-

The Silent Erosion of Excellence: UNILAG and the Crisis in Nigerian Higher Education

The University of Lagos (UNILAG), once a beacon of academic excellence and intellectual prestige in Nigeria, now finds itself at a crossroads. Established in 1962 by an act of the Federal Parliament, UNILAG was envisioned as a cornerstone of post-independence development, a place where the brightest minds would be nurtured to lead the nation into a prosperous future. From its modest beginnings with just 131 students, the university has grown into a sprawling institution with over 57,000 students, 19 faculties, and a legacy of producing some of Nigeria’s most influential figures across politics, business, entertainment, and academia.

Yet beneath this impressive façade lies a troubling reality. Between 2015 and 2022, UNILAG undertook a bold initiative to recruit first-class graduates as lecturers, aiming to elevate the quality of teaching and research. A total of 256 such scholars were hired. By October 2023, only 17 remained. The rest, 239 brilliant minds, had resigned, driven away by poor remuneration, harsh working conditions, and a system that seems to devalue intellectual labor.

Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who oversaw much of this recruitment, sounded the alarm at a public forum. He lamented the devaluation of academic life, noting that many lecturers return home to darkness, with the government offering paltry loans that barely cover the cost of basic infrastructure. His warning was stark: if urgent reforms are not enacted, Nigerian universities may soon be populated almost exclusively by female lecturers, not due to policy, but because male academics are disproportionately abandoning the profession under economic pressure.

This mass exodus is not merely a staffing issue; it is a symptom of a deeper malaise. Nigeria’s education sector is chronically underfunded, with federal and state allocations consistently falling below 10 percent of the national budget, far short of UNESCO’s recommended 15 to 26 percent. The consequences are immediate and profound. Infrastructure is crumbling, research is stifled, and digital transformation remains a distant dream. Nigeria now holds the grim distinction of having the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with estimates ranging from 10 to 22 million. Over 60 percent of primary education funding is consumed by salaries, leaving little room for innovation or capital investment.

UNILAG students bear the brunt of this crisis. With fewer qualified lecturers, academic quality declines, research opportunities shrink, and morale plummets. Postgraduate programs risk being diluted by underprepared candidates, while undergraduates face overcrowded classrooms, delayed grading, and a diminished sense of purpose. The university’s reputation, once a passport to global opportunity, now struggles to keep pace with international standards.

Yet amidst the gloom, there is a glimmer of hope. UNILAG has recently expanded its academic offerings, adding new faculties in computing, media, and health professions. There is a renewed emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, entrepreneurship, and global partnerships. Professor Ogundipe and other thought leaders have proposed innovative funding models, including public-private partnerships, alumni endowments, education bonds, and technology-driven investments. They argue that the private sector must see education not just as charity, but as enlightened self-interest, a way to build the workforce, talent, and markets of tomorrow.

The call to action is clear. Alumni must give back, not only through donations but through mentorship and advocacy. Civil society and faith-based organizations must amplify the urgency of reform. The media must sustain pressure on policymakers to prioritize education as a national imperative. UNILAG’s story is not just about one university, it is a mirror reflecting the state of Nigerian higher education. If the nation fails to act, it risks losing not just its brightest minds, but its future.