By Martin Paul
Abuja
Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie has stressed the need for an upward review of fees charged by universities in the country.
In a keynote address presented at the 4th biennial conference of Committee of Pro-Chancellors of state universities held at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, Okojie said adequate funding was critical to the attainment of world class standards.
He called on state governments to ensure ensuring that budgets allocated to institutions were released on time to facilitate the implementation of projects on ground.
Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, highlighted poor infrastructure, weak research and innovation capacities, shortage of teaching faculty, erosion of autonomy and political interference as threats to the development of state universities.
He said against this backdrop, state universities, in the absence of adequate funding, must now look to share resources amongst sister institutions while looking to cut costs.
Akenzua added that as members of the 21st century, universities must now look to maximise the use of digital resources to reduce administrative expenses and increase efficiency.
“Over the years, a number of factors have combined to create a crisis of confidence in our higher education system.
“The question is now whether the nation is getting value for the money it invests in university education”, Akenzua said.
