By Wilfred Eya
Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma on Thursday, led a conversation that examined what role universities play, through research and technological inventions, in the economic development of nations and why those in Nigeria must do the same.
He challenged the nation’s universities to become drivers of social change and lead the way to what he described as a new Nigeria.
Governor Uzodimma critically looked at the evidence of history to prove that universities across the globe have played such roles in the past even as he tried to determine whether Nigerian universities have done so too, and if not, why.
The event was the 52nd convocation lecture which held at the Nsukka main campus of the premier university.
Governor Uzodimma who delivered the Convocation lecture spoke on, “Why universities should lead the way to a new Nigeria ”.
In the colourful ceremony where a total of 12,526 students were awarded first degrees, the governor noted that universities should provide the compass that should lead to that new, prosperous and great Nigeria capable of addressing the emerging challenges such as climate change. The job of universities in this regard, he said, should begin with the right diagnosis of where Nigeria ought to be as a nation of 200 million people after 63 years of independence.
His position was also that universities need to also search within to identify the factors that are keeping the nation down from achieving the potential inherent in her vast human and material resources.
The governor raised many questions in his lecture. They include: “Why do we still have a relatively low level of industrial production and export, and why have we continued to export mostly raw materials?
“Why is our economy still overtly dependent on the export of crude oil, and why do we still have a high degree of poverty and inequality?”
Part of his questions also were, “Why have we failed to integrate the ethnic groups in Nigeria into one united nation, and why do we have a degree of crippling corruption in our public institutions, including universities?
“And, why do we have such a very low degree of patriotism amongst our people, including those who have benefitted immensely from the country?”
He added: “what excuse do we have for the poor state of road, power, health, educational and municipal infrastructure across the country?
“And why has our GDP stayed relatively low at USD 374 billion and why is our economy growing at such a ridiculously low rate of 2.51%? (I read recently that the University of California was a major contributor to the GDP of the State of California, and I wondered where we got it wrong in Nigeria)?”
Uzodimma was unequivocal that universities all over the world are known as the centre of learning and excellence, adding that because they offer advanced education, society looks up to them for knowledge and guidance.
He reemphasized that universities play a vital role as leaders in education, research and technology and that they are important to all sectors in society’s development.
He observed: “A recent survey on the needs and desires of Nigerians identified the following: better leadership, good roads, improved health facilities, constant supply of electricity, affordable homes, security, good quality education and great human capital to drive the realization of these desires.
“Let me add that this new Nigeria should be known for a higher level of productivity driven by advances in technology. This new Nigeria we desire should also be prosperous and industrialised with ample employment opportunities for our graduates.
“The new Nigerian society should also be functional and dynamic and should be devoid of such ills as corruption, inequality and poverty. “That is the new Nigeria we all desire and deserve, and this is not too much to expect in a society like ours with a very high degree of literacy. I am talking of a country that currently exports highly skilled manpower to developed countries of the world.”
Citing Dudley Seers, Uzodimma defined development as when a country experiences a reduction or elimination of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. He further asserts that “development means the conditions for realization of the human personality. Its evaluation must, therefore, take into account three linked criteria: where there has been a reduction in poverty, unemployment and inequality”
He described a university as the place where, “citizens learn how to turn a rock into a monument and not a nuisance.” When universities accomplish that role, he said, they serve as the compass that leads nations to development.
“I have no doubt that this was the main reason for which Dr Azikiwe labored against all odds to establish UNN when he did, and thereafter charged your forebears and you, “To produce the highly skilled men and women that will fulfill the manpower needs of the newly independent Nigerian state”.
The Imo governor expressed joy that since the premier indigenous University of Nigeria was joined by other similar institutions, Nigeria now boasts of a record 170 universities.
He noted that as of 2023, 79 of the universities were owned by private concerns and 43 others by the Federal Government, while state governments owned 48.
He said: “From these records, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly, University of Ife) have fathered many more universities.
“The implication is that our youths now have a lot more opportunities and options to pick from than the previous generations. I will refrain from usurping the job of the National Universities Commission as to commenting on the qualities of these 170 universities, especially the new ones, but let me just say that a lot more is desired.”
He said that going by the avalanche of graduates turned out each year by the universities and other higher institutions of learning in Nigeria, it is safe to say that the nation’s universities produce a surfeit of high-level manpower that can effectively manage affairs both at the national, state and local government levels. Uzodimma said that given the curricular of the universities as approved by the National Universities Commission, Nigeria should have experts that are capable of providing solutions to the myriad of problems or challenges confronting the nation.
He said: “Sadly, the good old days appear to be the days of glory for our university system. Without prejudice against some truly hard-working scholars, the Nigerian university system, today, is a shadow of its past.
Perhaps, we are all liable, but as things stand, can we assert without fear of contradiction that our universities contribute to, rather than deduct from national development?”
The nagging issues
Uzodimma regretted that the current state of Nigerian universities is fraught with challenges that hinder their ability to contribute effectively to national development. Prominent among the challenges, he said, is the absence of minimum facilities and standards for learning and character moulding.
His words: “Most, if not all universities lack basic facilities such as modern classrooms, laboratories, and libraries. The result is that students are crowded into small available classroom spaces and are denied access to modern laboratories, libraries and even online resources which are essential for studies and research in the 21st century. A classroom meant to accommodate 50 students now takes over 150 to 200 students in most federal and state universities.
“Besides, truly devoted lecturers are now in short supply. Many of those who teach in our universities today have no passion for the job. Some who had the passion have lost it, while some have no genuine interest in academics. “They just see it as a means of survival. Hence, they engage in all manner of unethical practices ranging from extortion of students to “sorting” and sexual harassment to make extra money and lower the standard of learning.
“Our universities have also become more of the hub of cultism than of knowledge and excellence. It appears that cultism has become the unofficial new faculty in most universities. Students spend more time in cult-related and other clandestine activities than in studying.
“Not surprisingly, many of them fail to match the expectations of the society. Instead, they graduate into different forms of criminality thus constituting a serious menace to society.”
The governor said it was impossible to produce refined young men and women in the kind of environment under which the students are accommodated. In the light of all these, not many are surprised that a good number of university graduates do not exhibit basic knowledge of the subjects for which they were awarded degrees.
Another challenge is the issue of corruption, unethical practices and misplaced priorities characterized by an excessive focus on appearances and administrative tasks rather than research, teaching, and community engagement.”
He said it had become customary for universities to introduce new dress codes or focus on banning certain items of clothing, while neglecting the development of research and development goals that could positively impact society. Many university authorities, he said, also spend more money in buying expensive cars, funding palatial quarters for officers, and sponsoring themselves and their cronies on expensive foreign trips that yield no fruits, than they spend on the improvement of teaching and research facilities, such as libraries, laboratories and workshops.
He regretted that the process of recruiting new staff is no longer based on merit, and the best brains are rejected in preference for friends, lobbyists and those who are willing to pay a bribe.
The admission process, he said, sadly has also continued to diminish the place of merit at the expense of nepotism and other considerations.
He said the greatest bane of the present- day universities is that many of them are still living in the past, either refusing or unable to embrace modern – day digital realities.
Uzodimma noted that the advent of technology has made the world more interconnected and interdependent, thus putting added pressure on universities to transform into Smart Learning Centres. That, he said, implies that the universities must intensify efforts towards developing sufficient skilled human capital required for driving the digital economy. He said therefore, that the imperative of Nigerian universities transforming into smart knowledge centres is non- negotiable.
He said the truth is that Nigerian universities were ill-prepared to perform their roles as sources for producing the type of knowledge that can service the ever-evolving technology sector with the requisite manpower and expertise.
He said poor funding, inadequate infrastructure, the dearth of skilled ICT personnel, and the absence of engagement with industry and government have remained the major challenges hindering Nigerian universities from contributing to the global expansion of emerging technologies and innovations.
The governor said it was evident that Nigerian universities lack the resources and mindset to add economic/social value to their graduates and communities. Consequently, he said, instead of being job creators, graduates end up as job seekers because they do not receive sufficient trainings in entrepreneurship and innovation.
His words: ‘The truth is that our universities are yet to align with the fast-emerging technologies presented through artificial intelligence – blockchain, big data and algorithm; robotics, 5G, quantum computing, biosensors/biometrics, virtual/augmented reality and gamification, among many others.
“This is why I believe that our universities are still living in the analogue age. Our universities need to migrate to the smart digital age if they must lead the way to the new Nigeria we desire.
“In ten years time, the learning environment and workplace expectations will change considerably. These would be caused by future technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, diversity and inequality. Are our universities, including our first indigenous university, the University of Nigeria, on whose grounds I stand, ready for these changes?”
The governor however noted that if the ICT hubs are effectively managed, Nigerian universities would be able to regain their relevance and original mission of functioning as generators of knowledge and technology to equip and support youths to contribute value in an ever expanding digital economic world order.
He said efforts should be intensified to establish the ICT hubs in all the universities and possibly in primary and secondary schools.
“There is no doubt that the future surely holds great prospect for Nigeria’s digital economy when all our higher education institutions are transformed into smart universities imbued with the knowledge base and competitive edge to match their contemporaries in other parts of the world.
“The other step to take is to strengthen the law establishing the Nigerian universities commission so that it can strictly enforce the best standards in all universities. Universities should also be empowered to withdraw the certificate of any of its graduates indicted for any form of criminality and / or corruption after graduation.
“Since the universities vouch for the character of their graduates by certifying same in their certificates, the beneficiaries should know that the certificate can be withdrawn if they become of bad character. In like manner, lecturers who are indicted of extortion, sorting or sexual harassment should in addition to jail terms be de-robed of all their academic qualifications. Similar fate should be visited on lecturers and university authorities who misuse or misappropriate funds meant for research and administration.”
He expressed joy that the issue of underfunding of universities was being addressed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he was confident that it would soon become a thing of the past.
“ I am also glad that his administration will demand a higher degree of accountability and transparency in the deployment of these funds from the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND) to our universities”, he said.
As drivers of social change
Uzodimma challenged the nation’s universities to assume the role of change agents and drive the country in a new direction.
“I dream of a time when new political and economic theories will emerge from our lecture rooms and scientific discoveries and revolutions are announced in our laboratories. A time when our campuses become places where ideas are hatched, where new theories are examined and where new philosophies are debated. In this university of my dream, young adults should be nurtured and turned into thinkers, innovators, analysts, dreamers and sceptics.
“Our universities should become nurseries where the next generations of leaders are taught to be principled and to have integrity even when it hurts”, he said.
One of the highlights of the event was his announcement of the endowment of a chair known as the HOPE UZODIMMA CHAIR FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES to be domiciled in the department of political science or any department in the faculty of social sciences.