Rebuilding excellence: The case for strengthening existing Nigerian universities
By Inyene Nkanta
Recently, I have heard several concerned Nigerians discussing and debating President Tinubu’s decision to pause the establishment of new universities.
As a concerned citizen and an educator, this is my take on the recent debates surrounding President Tinubu’s decision to halt the creation of new universities. I must say, this is a commendable and necessary step.
Nigeria does not need more universities at the moment; what we need are stronger, better-resourced, and more efficient ones.
Our current institutions are struggling under the weight of inadequate infrastructure, underfunding, and declining research output.
Expanding the number of universities without addressing these underlying issues only spreads limited resources even thinner.
As a lecturer and researcher at one of the higher institutions in the United Kingdom, I have witnessed first-hand the impact of substantial investment, good governance, and alignment with industry needs on higher education.
Universities are not just centres for teaching; they are innovation hubs, deeply connected to society and the economy.
Research drives policy, partnerships fuel enterprise, and academic excellence is sustained by continuous investment.
Quality investment, academic freedom, and industry collaboration can elevate the standard of education and research.
Universities are not simply degree-awarding bodies; they are innovation hubs, centres for problem-solving, and key drivers of national development. That is the model Nigeria should aspire to strengthen before building more institutions.
Many of our existing universities face deep structural challenges. Lecture halls are overcrowded, laboratories are outdated, libraries are understocked, and staff are underpaid. Academic research, which is the foundation of national development, has suffered due to years of neglect.
The result is a system that prioritises survival over innovation, where lecturers work tirelessly despite poor conditions, and students graduate without the practical or transferable skills demanded by today’s economy.
This pause offers an opportunity to refocus our national priorities. Rather than multiplying institutions, government attention should shift to strengthening the quality of teaching and learning in the universities that already exist.
This includes investing in research infrastructure, digital learning technologies, staff development, and student support systems. Equally important is the need to align higher education with industry needs.
Our universities must become engines of innovation and enterprise, not isolated academic enclaves. Building stronger links between academia and industry will ensure that students graduate with skills that make them employable and globally competitive.
Another concern is the proliferation of universities established for political rather than academic reasons. Some new universities lack basic facilities, qualified staff, or sustainable funding. They become symbolic projects rather than centres of excellence.
A pause allows for proper evaluation, not just of how many universities we have, but of how well they are performing and contributing to national development. This is not an argument against expansion forever, but for consolidation now. Growth without quality is regression.
Before creating new universities, we must first restore excellence to the ones we have. If properly managed, this policy could mark a turning point for Nigerian higher education. It is an opportunity to rebuild confidence in our institutions, prioritise merit, and redefine the value of a university degree.
Nigeria’s future depends not on how many universities it can count, but on how much knowledge, innovation, and integrity those universities can produce. We do not need more universities with fewer results; we need fewer universities with greater impact.
*Dr Inyene Nkanta, Lecturer in Circular Economy, Sustainability and Enterprise, University of the West of Scotland, Lanarkshire Campus | Hamilton International Technology Park, Stephenson Place | South Lanarkshire
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