Former JAMB Registrar and ex-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has called for major changes in the way Nigerian universities are managed, funded and developed.
Speaking at the 37th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Oloyede argued that universities must move beyond simply surviving challenges and build systems that can anticipate disruptions, adapt to change and remain relevant.
Here are the key changes he proposed:
1. Universities should stop equating resilience with suffering
Oloyede said universities should not celebrate lecturers working with inadequate facilities, students learning without reliable electricity or internet, or laboratories operating without essential equipment as signs of resilience.
For him, resilience means being able to anticipate problems, respond to disruptions and improve systems after challenges.
2. Nigeria needs fewer but stronger universities
Oloyede questioned the continuous creation of new universities as a solution to the country’s education challenges.
He noted that although Nigeria had 310 universities at the beginning of 2026, many institutions were struggling to attract applicants. He cited Federal Ministry of Education figures showing that 199 universities received fewer than 100 JAMB applications in the preceding admission cycle, while 34 received none.
He argued that the focus should therefore shift from simply increasing the number of universities to strengthening existing ones through better infrastructure, staffing, funding and clearer institutional missions.
3. Universities must prepare for AI and changing jobs
According to Oloyede, artificial intelligence, automation, digital platforms and data analytics are changing how knowledge is produced and applied.
He therefore called for regular curriculum reviews across disciplines, including law, medicine, agriculture, engineering, education, humanities and the creative industries.
The goal, he said, should be to ensure that university programmes remain relevant to changing professional and employment demands.
4. Universities need sustainable funding and greater accountability
Oloyede acknowledged that universities require more funding but said financial sustainability is also tied to good governance and public trust.
He argued that alumni and institutional partners are more likely to support universities that clearly explain how funds will be used, publish audited accounts and demonstrate results.
He also warned that alternative funding models must not make university education inaccessible to students from poor backgrounds, recommending a combination of loans, scholarships, bursaries and work-study arrangements.
5. Universities must retain and attract skilled staff
Oloyede warned that universities cannot become resilient while experienced academics leave, young lecturers become overloaded and technical staff are neglected.
He called for better research support, functional laboratories, manageable workloads, fair promotion systems, safe campuses and appropriate remuneration.
He also proposed turning brain drain into brain gain by creating opportunities for academics in the diaspora to teach, supervise students and collaborate on research.
6. Universities should develop distinct identities
Oloyede criticised the tendency of universities to copy one another by establishing similar programmes, centres and structures.
Instead, he advocated mission differentiation.
Some universities, for instance, could focus more strongly on research and postgraduate education, while others could specialise in agriculture, health, technology, teacher education, creative industries or regional development.
He stressed that having different missions would not make one university more important than another; it would simply give each institution a clearer purpose.
7. Universities should collaborate instead of duplicating resources
Rather than every institution attempting to build its own expensive facilities, Oloyede urged universities to share specialised equipment, research facilities, digital resources and expertise.
He said stronger collaboration could reduce unnecessary duplication while allowing institutions to make better use of limited resources.
8. Universities need stronger systems, not dependence on individuals
Oloyede warned that institutions become vulnerable when essential functions depend on a few individuals.
He called for better records management, succession plans, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance and clear institutional procedures so that leadership changes or unexpected crises do not disrupt university operations.
9. Research should solve real Nigerian problems
He also called for a shift from research driven primarily by publication numbers to research that produces measurable public value.
According to him, promotion systems should recognise quality, mentorship, collaboration and research impact, while funding should support long-term, interdisciplinary projects focused on national challenges.
10. Universities should measure whether they are actually improving
Oloyede proposed a Nigerian Universities Resilience Compact, with measurable commitments and annual reporting through the Committee of Vice Chancellors.
He suggested that universities should track indicators such as student progression, retention, completion and graduate outcomes, while also maintaining risk registers, continuity plans and succession frameworks.
He further challenged each university represented at the conference to return home with a 90-day agenda identifying its major vulnerabilities, priorities, responsible officials, required resources and measures of progress.
Ultimately, Oloyede’s message was that Nigerian universities should stop seeing disruption merely as something to survive.
They must become institutions capable of anticipating problems, adapting intelligently, collaborating, innovating and consistently delivering value to students and societ
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