The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to take urgent steps toward restoring the lost glory of Nigeria’s first-generation universities.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo) during the House plenary on Wednesday.
Oseni, in his motion, lamented the steady decline in academic standards, infrastructure, and global competitiveness of iconic institutions such as the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, among others.
He noted that these institutions, once regarded as centres of excellence across Africa, have in recent years suffered from poor funding, obsolete facilities, and frequent disruptions caused by industrial actions.
According to him, Nigeria’s first-generation universities played a pivotal role in producing top-tier professionals, administrators, and scholars who contributed immensely to national development, but have since lost their global standing due to neglect and underinvestment.
The lawmaker called for a comprehensive revitalisation plan to reposition the universities for world-class performance, including enhanced funding for research, improved infrastructure, and better welfare for academic and non-academic staff.
Following extensive deliberation, the House adopted the motion and mandated its Committee on University Education to liaise with relevant government agencies to develop actionable strategies for the revival and sustainability of the affected institutions.
Lawmakers across party lines supported the motion, describing it as timely and crucial to revitalising Nigeria’s higher education system and restoring the international reputation of the nation’s universities.
