By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Professor Nahzeem Olufemi Mimiko, a prominent academic and former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, has identified poor funding and corruption as significant obstacles to university education in Nigeria. He made this assertion during a pre-convocation lecture in preparation for the 8th convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Lokoja, scheduled for Saturday.
In his lecture titled “Reimagining Nigeria’s University Education for Wholesome National Development,” Professor Mimiko emphasized that inadequate funding remains the principal challenge facing university education in the country. He noted that Nigeria has yet to meet the UNESCO-recommended education funding threshold of 15% to 20% of GDP, as outlined in a 2015 UNESCO report.
The professor of Political Science and International Relations criticized the physical facilities for teaching and learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions, describing them as inadequate, dilapidated, and overcrowded. He argued that to overcome these challenges, a fundamental reimagining of the education system is required to make universities more competitive and capable of fostering national development.
Professor Mimiko also drew a distinction between university education and technical education provided by polytechnics. He recommended that universities should focus on the conceptual dimensions of knowledge, while polytechnics should concentrate on producing skilled middle-level manpower in technical fields.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, described the lecture as an intellectual discussion vital for the future career guidance of students. He praised Professor Mimiko as an erudite scholar whose insights would significantly contribute to the educational and economic landscape of Nigeria.
