LASU Professor Highlights Challenges of Government Funding in Public Universities
Professor Ezekiel Adeoti from Lagos State University (LASU) has highlighted the challenges of underfunding and dependence on government funds in public universities in Nigeria.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Ezekiel Adeoti, a professor at Lagos State University (LASU), has identified underfunding and dependence on government funds as major challenges facing university governance in Nigeria. Speaking at the 95th inaugural lecture of LASU, Adeoti emphasized the need for alternative funding models to sustain higher education in the country.
RECOMMENDED: UNIOSUN Lecturer Earns Coveted Nigeria Malaria Modelling Fellowship
The lecture titled “Interrogating Multidimensional Crises in the Management and Funding of University Education in Nigeria: A Historian’s Perspective” shed light on the current economic realities that make it evident that the government alone cannot adequately fund university education.
“The inadequate and poor funding of higher education has significantly impacted research and teaching, two core focus areas of the university system,” Adeoti stated. He highlighted that this has compelled university managers to seek alternative income-generating projects to sustain the institutions.
Adeoti further outlined other challenges plaguing higher education in Nigeria, including poor remuneration of staff, inadequate academic staff, lack of capacity building, and a misguided assumption that higher education is meant for everyone, leading to an over-reliance on paper qualifications.
He urged university managers to explore innovative ways to generate funds to match their counterparts in developed nations. Additionally, Adeoti called on policymakers to prioritize funding for research, teaching, and publication of scholarly works to restore the glorious traditions of academia.
“Providing adequate funding for university education is paramount and serves as a sustainable solution to the crises of nation-building,” Adeoti emphasized.
This insightful lecture underscores the urgent need for reform in the funding and management of public universities in Nigeria to ensure quality education and drive sustainable development.
