FUTA VC Advocates Repositioning Nigerian Universities for Relevance and Excellence

The Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has called for a strategic renewal of the Nigerian university system, emphasizing the need to restore institutions to their role as citadels of civility and knowledge creation.

Her remarks came during the 8th Registry Annual Lecture at Elizade University on 5th December 2025, themed “The Nigerian University System: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”

Professor Oladiji highlighted the fundamental purpose of universities as centres for knowledge generation, teaching, and learning, describing them as inclusive ecosystems where diverse generations, genders, and professional backgrounds converge to fuel creativity, innovation, and human capital development. She stressed that universities are not only academic institutions but incubators of essential life skills, entrusted with producing manpower that drives governance, economic growth, and societal advancement.

While celebrating the strengths of Nigerian universities, Professor Oladiji acknowledged persistent challenges undermining their credibility and effectiveness. These include:

• Inadequate funding and manpower shortages
• Misuse of autonomy and politicization of academic matters
• Industrial disputes disrupting academic calendars
• Over-expansion and massification of university education
• Indiscriminate award of honorary degrees and fake admissions
• Declining institutional reputation and excessive localisation
• Promotion of loyalty over merit, unionism abuse, examination malpractices, grade manipulation
• Sexual harassment, proliferation of degree mills, and mishandling of sensitive student information

She argued that such practices erode public trust and threaten the essence of higher education, calling for immediate reforms to restore integrity, accountability, and excellence.

Professor Oladiji also highlighted the pivotal role of the Registry, describing it as the bridge between staff and students, custodian of records, and stabilizing force that ensures continuity and coherence across the university system. She urged university leaders to learn from each other, uphold merit, strengthen leadership, and recommit to the foundational values of scholarship and service.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and former Pro-Chancellor of Federal University, Lafia, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, OFR, emphasized the urgent need to address systemic decadence and called for a comprehensive overhaul of the tertiary education system to ensure that future generations recognize the true value of education.

The Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Sunday Adeyemo, commended Professor Oladiji for her insightful and cerebral lecture, noting that it provided a timely opportunity to reflect on achievements, identify persistent challenges, and propose practical solutions for improving the university system.

Earlier, the Registrar of Elizade University, Mr. Omololu Adegbenro, highlighted that universities serve as solution centers, stressing that scholarly exchanges like the lecture reaffirm the importance of intellectual inquiry as a vehicle for reform and transformation.

The event drew participation from registry staff, administrators, and leading academics from various universities, marking a significant moment for dialogue on repositioning Nigerian universities for global relevance, excellence, and sustainable impact.