Education Expert Advises Against Establishing New Universities in Nigeria
Adesegun Ogungbayi, the board chairman of MIMS Educational Services, cautions against the proposed creation of 32 new federal universities in Nigeria.
AKACHI NOEL 
Lawmakers in Nigeria have introduced 32 bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives, seeking to establish new universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. However, Adesegun Ogungbayi, an education expert, considers this move "misplaced." He warns against the creation of new institutions without adequate funding for existing ones.
Nigeria already has 52 federal universities, 63 state universities, and 147 private universities. Ogungbayi emphasizes the need for lawmakers to address the underfunding of current educational institutions, citing challenges such as the mass migration of lecturers overseas and students abandoning public universities.
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In an interview, Ogungbayi advocates for increased funding for remunerating lecturers, highlighting the importance of addressing existing problems rather than creating more "white elephant projects." He stresses the need for quality education, emphasizing that Nigeria's universities should aim for global competitiveness.
Despite the push for more universities, Ogungbayi urges authorities to prioritize standardization over proliferation to enhance the overall quality of education in the country.
