It has been reported that industrial action launched in early July by the three registered trade unions in Nigerian public universities has paralysed teaching, research and administration. Staff grievances include low salaries, lack of university autonomy and more money for research.
African Universities have similar problems
According to University World News, the current stand-off is not new. It started in 2001 when the government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) failed to sign a negotiated memorandum of understanding articulating the need to improve working and living conditions in Nigerian universities. It is reported that
Both parties agreed on four things: First, there was an urgent need to reduce the brain drain that is costing Nigerian universities their best academics. It was agreed that lecturer salaries should be increased by about 140% and the high price of crude oil and gas was sufficient to meet the cost.
Second, it was agreed the retirement age of professors should be raised from 65 to 70 years. Most brilliant young graduates today are not interested in pursuing postgraduate studies that would enable them to succeed ageing professors.
They have different ambitions and career agendas, and prefer to dash out of university with a first degree and plunge into the labour market where they hope rapidly to become millionaires.
Third, the government agreed to substantially increase research funding in universities. It also pledged to put pressure on the private sector to earmark a percentage of profits for research.
Finally, the ASUU obtained a promise to enshrine the principle of university autonomy in the agreement.
The developments in Nigeria show that the problems faced by most Universities on the continent are very similar. We have often been told that academicians in Africa cannot be given higher salaries because of limited financial resources. But, ironically, we continue to see politicians giving themselves hefty salaries and allowances from the same meagre resources.
For African countries to crawl out of poverty, they have to commit a huge portion of their limited resources to education. As President Obama puts it, education is the currency that can purchase success in the 21st century. Most African countries are endowed with vast quantities of natural resources, but as Phillip Emeagwali points out, it is countries that have higher intellectual capital, but with fewer natural resources, that demonstrate greater economic growth rates. Emeagwali notes that
Japan’s economic growth, driven by technological superiority, outpaces that of Saudi Arabia; South Korea is growing faster than oil-rich Nigeria; and Taiwan’s economy has moved well beyond that of oil-rich Venezuela. The United States and Norway are also rich in oil, yet their staggering economic growth comes from intellectual capital.
African countries must make deliberate efforts to boost their intellectual capital just like India has been doing. Otherwise, I am sorry to say that the cycle of poverty on the continent will not be broken 
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10 users commented in " African Universities have similar problems "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackToying with education like that should not be done at all. When it gets to the point of an institution such as The University of Zimbabwe for example which is open and then closed and then open and then closed…(you get the picture) is playing around with people’s livelihood. Them getting an education is steps towards pursuing their dreams and making something of themselves (legitimately). A nation can crumble if it citizens do not have a good solid educational background.
.-= Living Zim´s last blog ..Afrikiwi Freedom Creations – Helping Women in Zimbabwean Prisons =-.
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Great post.
Africa university systems really do need a revival! What with this entire die today, wake up tomorrow. The African leaders should put heads together to see how they could move the education sector forward as opposed to enriching their pockets at the expense of the masses. In Nigeria, the private universities that are supposed to be backup of sorts (for those who can afford the high cost) are even a nightmare. A lot of their courses are not accredited by NUC; most of them have been tagged post secondary institution for their lack of basic amenities.
How on earth did we degenerate to this level?
Some of the Nigeria universities used to be pace setters for other African countries, we used to have foreign students come in to study here, but now that is no more.
The lecturers, hmmmmmm, they are too busy running after contracts or looking after their personal interests to care much for students. When they do have the time, the lectures are half heartedly delivered, WHY? NO MOTIVATION. They lecture student who drives jeep and other exotic cars to school, who lunched at the best eatery that costs a fortune a plate and we continue to wonder why the BRAINS ARE ASLEEP!
I don’t think we need to go far for answers, for us to be respected and be able to hold our heads high, our government needs to look deeply into the issue of education and bettering the lives of lecturers. I do pity some of them you know! You need to be around them to understand what they go through.
Thanks for this great post.
.-= Bola´s last blog ..Influencing lives? =-.
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Clement Nyirenda says:
August 24th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
The root behind all this seems to be selfishness. When people, in government are selfish, they prioritize their own needs. They are so short sighted. They can not plan strategically for the nation. They do not have a vision for their people. They do not care for the common good.
As a result, we see them enriching themselves from state resources at the expense of the poor people.Articles like these: http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=687:nigeria-still-corrupt-and-happy&catid=25:politics&Itemid=37 show that we are have huge problems in Africa.
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Political establishments everywhere are playing with education which will leave future generations in dire straits. This is a timely post and I hope that authorities everywhere are reading it and learning from it.
.-= Nicole Price´s last blog ..India’s Squabbling Siblings: A Tale of Two Billionaires =-.
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Very well said. Global country problems made by political heads are touching every sector of life and it’s important to try to educate population on how to solve them.
.-= George´s last blog ..Planning an Orlando Vacation on the Web =-.
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My friend is a Chemistry teacher and he visited Nigeria this summer, said they had classes with well over 200 students. Makes me feel lucky.
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Unfortunately the educational system is not the only one which is heading in a wrong direction in most of african countries. But beeing the most important (in my opinion) is a shame they cant do anything to regress it. I think the only thing they need is time, because without time nothing can be built(or in this case rebuilt) in a correct way.
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Poverty is serious problem in African countries and it is not likely to be solved very soon if political leaders carry on the way the do.
They are just in it for the money.
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First of all sorry for my bad English. Although I do not live in Africa, but my country has the same problem. But the worst thing that we do not organize strikes and defend their rights, people do not believe that something can change in such a way
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This will really be a big improvement on the universities. Salaries of professors are really small. Increasing investment for research in universities is a necessary improvement.
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