Qualitative University Education and the Problem of Underfunding In Nigeria

Abstract

The issue of underfunding of university education in Nigeria is a recurring one and cannot be glossed over. Under funding is viewed as bane of qualitative university education in Nigeria. This paper highlights the trend in establishment and funding of universities nothing that funding of education has remained one of the most challenging problems of universities and the government. It described the concept of quality education, how quality education is perceived in the Nigeria context and various ways in which underfunding has impinged on the quality of university education. It concluded that underfunding has became a recurring have not been sincere in their commitment towards university education. A number of recommendations to ameliorate the situation were made amongst which are: that the government and political class should muster enough political-will and allocate at least 26% of the total budget to university education as suggested by UNESCO, use of the find allocated to the universities should be closely monitored to forestall misappropriation, allowances paid to political office holders should be received downwards as this would make more money available in government offers and that money accruing from such exercise should be channelled towards providing state-of-the-art laboratories in universities, faith based organizations be made to contribute to universities funding by paying a stipulated percentage of their income to government to augment university funding.

African neuroscience on the global stage: Nigeria as a model

“…The number of Nigeria's neuroscience publications has seen a speedy increase since 2000. This could be attributed to increased support from international organisation towards education in the country that peaked in the early 2000s (Ogunyinka, ), the political will to invest in education that started with the return of democracy (Chinyere & Goodluck, ), or the slow implementation of Education Tax Act since the 1990s and the re‐introduction of new acts, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act in 2011 that is currently the main source of research fund in the country (http://www.tetfund.gov.ng/index.php/about-us/history). The neuroscience society of Nigeria (http://www.neurosciencenigeria.org/) currently has over 200 members, some of whom are currently pursuing higher degrees in neuroscience‐related disciplines within and outside Nigeria, suggesting that the annual number of Nigeria's neuroscience publications may continue to exponentially rise in the near future.…”

“…The number of Nigeria's neuroscience publications has seen a speedy increase since 2000. This could be attributed to increased support from international organisation towards education in the country that peaked in the early 2000s (Ogunyinka, 2013), the political will to invest in education that started with the return of democracy (Chinyere & Goodluck, 2015), or the slow implementation of Education Tax Act since the 1990s and the re-introduction of new acts, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act in 2011 that is currently the main source of research fund in the country (http://www. tetfund.gov.ng/index.php/about-us/history).…”

African Neuroscience on the Global Stage: Nigeria as a Model

“…This could be attributed to increased support from international organisation towards education in the country that peaked in the early 2000s (Ogunyinka, 2013), the political will to invest in education that started with the return of democracy (Chinyere and Goodluck, 2015), or the slow implementation of Education Tax Act since the 1990s and the re- Although there is a clear evidence of a solid neuroscience research base and steady publication output in reputable international journals, across the nearly two decades investigated, only one Nigerian-led neuroscience paper was published in a "top-tier" journal.…”