The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to restore the lost glory of Nigeria’s first-generation universities — including the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo) during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Oseni said the institutions, which were once the pride of Africa for their world-class facilities and academic excellence, have suffered years of neglect, poor funding, and infrastructural decay.
He lamented that lecture halls, hostels, and laboratories in these schools are now in deplorable condition, while once-thriving facilities like university zoos have been abandoned.
The lawmaker also raised concerns about the poor quality of projects funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), noting that some newly completed buildings are already showing signs of damage — unlike older structures that have lasted for decades.
Following the debate, the House resolved to investigate the quality and standard of TETFund projects in federal universities to ensure accountability and value for public funds.
It also urged the Ministries of Education and Finance, the National Universities Commission, and development partners to work together on plans to upgrade and rehabilitate the old universities.
The House Committees on University Education and TETFund were mandated to conduct the investigation and report back within four weeks.
Nigeria’s first-generation universities, established in the early 1960s, once set the standard for academic excellence in Africa — attracting international scholars and students. But decades of neglect have left them struggling to maintain that legacy.
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