Former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Wande Abimbola, has sounded the alarm over the deplorable condition of Nigerian universities, lamenting that professors in the country are grossly underpaid and higher institutions risk total collapse if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking as a guest on Boiling Point Arena, the former Senate Majority Leader described the salaries of Nigerian professors as “a pittance,” saying the once-prestigious academic profession has now been reduced to poverty.
Professors Paid Less Than Gardeners Abroad
Prof. Abimbola revealed that a Nigerian full professor currently earns about ₦500,000 monthly, which is approximately $300. Shockingly, he compared this to the earnings of gardeners in the United States, who can make the same amount within just three hours of work.
“Recently, about two years ago, I went back to the University where I served as VC. I visited my Department and was told that a full professor earns about ₦500,000 monthly. When we converted it, it was about $300 – the same amount someone abroad would pay a gardener for three hours’ work,” he said, stressing that many academics are demoralized and struggling to survive.
The Decline of Nigerian Universities
The former OAU VC recalled that during his tenure in 1989, Nigerian universities were still strong and ranked among the top globally. However, within a decade of his exit, the system began to deteriorate rapidly.
“Our institutions were still at their peak of quality. But less than ten years after my exit, I visited the University and almost cried because of the level of decadence. It has been worsening ever since,” he lamented.
Abimbola criticized the Federal and State Governments for establishing new universities while neglecting to fund the existing ones. According to him, if the authorities are not ready to adequately fund universities, “they should wind them up” instead of leaving them to rot.
Call for Urgent Rescue Measures
The former VC urged the Federal Government to set up a Commission of Inquiry that will recommend solutions to salvage the nation’s deteriorating higher education system.
“The most important thing about universities is funding. We need to ask our governments why they have remained aloof while things got this bad. The best thing now is to urgently set up a Commission of Inquiry to determine practical steps to save the system,” he advised.
Prof. Abimbola also expressed regret that Nigerian universities, which once ranked among the top 500 in the world and top 11 in Africa, have now slipped far behind.
“Nigerian universities are slowly dying before our very eyes. It is a big shame,” he concluded.
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