‘Nigerians Spend N160bn In Two Ghanaian Universities, Yearly’

It is now revealed that about N160billion is spent as fees
annually by Nigerian students in just two Ghanaian universities, .The former
Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Nimi Briggs, made the
revelation at a three-day retreat organised for members of the Governing
Council of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu,
Wednesday at Best Western Hotel, Port Harcourt.

Prof Briggs, whose lecture was titled: “An Overview of
University Administration in Nigeria”, said that these figures were far in
excess of what both the federal and state governments release to their
universities  in Nigeria.

He listed some challenges confronting the Nigerian
university system to include corruption, poor funding ,management, cultism and
proliferation of unions.

The former vice chancellor also warned against much emphasis
on admission of students while the activities of unions must not be allowed to
conflict with university academic calendars.

According to him, the individual university governing councils
have the responsibility of tackling the challenges in their respective
institutions.

In his paper titled: The Role of the Governing Council in
University Administration”, the former chairman, Governing Council of Obafemi
Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof S.J.S. Cookey, stressed the need for
the de-politicisation of appointments of governing councils of universities.

He charged council members to seek innovative and creative
ways of increasing internally-generated revenue while exploring external
funding options, adding that the university needs to develop resourceful ways
of rebranding to create a positive image for itself and win the confidence of
the public.

According to him, “the primary role of the council is to
elevate the reputation of the university, and not subject it to public disdain
or opprobrium”, adding that, “the guiding principle is the upliftment of the
institution”.

Prof Cookey also said that it behoves the council to demand
full accountability from the vice chancellor and his team in a bid to
ensure  orderly growth of the
institution.