ASUU Raises Concerns Over First-Class Graduates from Private Universities, Criticizes Education System

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed concerns over the growing number of first-class graduates being produced annually by private universities in Nigeria.

ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, raised this issue on Thursday at an event held at Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, to honor Prof. Andy Egwunyenga for his successful tenure as Vice Chancellor.

Osodeke warned that if public universities adopt similar practices without regulation, it could undermine genuine academic pursuits. He noted that primary and secondary schools are now producing graduates with high grades but lacking in-depth knowledge.

The ASUU leader also criticized the “mass exodus” of skilled Nigerian workers seeking better opportunities abroad, suggesting that incidents like building collapses in the country reflect serious issues within Nigerian institutions.

He reflected on the decline in academics’ standard of living, saying that while there were past successes in ensuring a comfortable life for academics, the situation has since deteriorated. He emphasized that ASUU would continue to advocate for fairness and justice in the education sector.

Prof. Omotoye Olorode, an ASUU member, addressed the issue of new university curricula under the theme “New University Curricula (CCMAS): Context and Matters Arising.” He argued that the CCMAS was an imperialistic mechanism aimed at disrupting established academic structures and perpetuating a system where Africans remain agricultural laborers for developed nations. He also lamented that Nigeria has never allocated more than 7% of its national budget to education, far below UNESCO’s recommended 26%, reflecting stagnation in the sector.

Olorode congratulated Prof. Egwunyenga for his successful tenure as DELSU Vice Chancellor, while Dr. Paul Opone, Chairman of DELSU ASUU, praised Egwunyenga for his leadership, which he said had restored the university from the challenges posed by poor leadership since 2019. Opone noted that this was the first time ASUU at DELSU had organized such an event to honor a lecturer.

Responding to the accolades, Prof. Egwunyenga expressed his gratitude and revealed that his approach as Vice Chancellor was inspired by Festus Iyayi’s book Demons and Monsters.