‘We don’t need additional universities in Nigeria’, says Professor Raji

Aderemi Raji, a professor in the Department of English, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has advised the Federal Government not to approve additional universities in Nigeria.

Raji lamented the inability of the state and the federal governments to fund the tertiary institutions.

The university don, who spoke with PUNCH on Saturday, expressed disappointment over the establishment of universities without proper planning.

He said,” The question is rhetorical. We don’t need more universities, especially when we can’t adequately fund those we currently have. The way universities are established and financed in this country suggests a lack of proper planning in the structuring of the system.

“In 2023, we had 170 universities at the federal, state, and private levels. But by 2024, we already have 274 universities, which was an increase of 104 within one year.

“With this focus on quantity, the quality of education is called into question.

“Generally, we are witnessing the proliferation of average institutions and the argument for more universities may be to create more opportunities for student admissions.

“However, it seems that we are paying so much attention to quantity that quality no longer matters.”