Arrest Operators Of Illegal Varsities, Afe Babalola Tells NUC

The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola has urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to arrest and prosecute those operating unaccredited universities in the country.

He noted that their activities are inimical to academic growth and quality education.

Speaking at the university yesterday while hosting the NUC team during their assessment tour to evaluate the level of compliance to good governance in the institution, Babalola said the best way to discourage illegal universities in Nigeria is by meting out stringent sanctions on operators.

He said: “Get those operating illegal universities arrested. It is a common knowledge that there are many illegal universities masquerading as real universities. I urge you to recommend to NUC a more drastic action against proprietors or owners of such institutions.

“I attended primary school during the colonial days. If I had attended just an ordinary primary school, like we have today, I could not have passed London General Certificate in Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced levels with which I went to the university. That is why quality education is very crucial.

“Why do we lower our own standard to ordinary school certificate? The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) must take note of this.”

While commenting on the lopsided admission policy in Nigeria, he said: “Even in admission, 200 should be minimum mark in JAMB to secure admissions to the universities. But the mark had been deducted and once JAMB allowed this to happen, then it has lowered the standard already. The minimum should not be so ridiculous. I hereby suggest a universal cut-off mark, which should not be less than 40 per cent of the total mark.”

He urged the commission to rework the curricular being used in the universities, saying the present ones in operation lack modernity and not in touch with the reality of the 21st century economic growth.

In his response, the NUC team leader, Prof. Yekeen Sanusi, said the NUC would continue to strive hard for excellence by enforcing provision for adequate infrastructures and personnel in the universities.

He also added that one of the major challenges across the world is quality governance “because it was assumed that once there is good governance, then every other thing will work”.

“Good governance changes lives, landscape, our experience; it brings quality. That is why we are here to learn. We want to say that the universities should be staffed adequately.

“For any university to scale the hurdles of good governance, NUC needs data about equipment, staff and students because it is the cumulative effects of these that will help the development, expansion and growth of our ivory towers.”