Nigeria's failing university system
(Courtesy of Aladeselu Margaret Ayomikun)
18-year-old Aladeselu Margaret Ayomikun writes about the challenges university students face.
I believe everyone has the right to a quality university education — yet this is far from our reality in Nigeria. There are only 170 accredited universities in Nigeria, 43 are federal universities, 48 are state universities and 79 are private universities. At the same time, there are currently over 180 million people living in Nigeria and about 62% of them are 24 or younger. There are simply not enough universities for Nigeria’s student population. Data shows that approximately one in four students applying to university will get a spot; the majority of students who apply aren’t able to go to university not necessarily because they didn't meet the criteria for admission but because there just isn't enough space for them.
Even if you get into university, that is no guarantee you will get a quality education. Our universities lack the structural and academic faculties that are needed to keep students motivated, including learning-conducive lecture rooms, spacious and comfortable student accommodations, cafeterias, passionate lecturers, financial aid, student-friendly libraries, standard medical centers and more. Our lecturers can determine who would fail or pass a course even before the beginning of a new semester. You could be forced to repeat a grade for failing only one course. We can have good grades on paper but haven’t actually learned anything.
“It gets even worse if you are a female because you have to pray hard every day that you are never asked for sex in exchange for grades. You have to listen to male lecturers tell you what you can or can’t wear.”
It gets even worse if you are a female because you have to pray hard every day that you are never asked for sex in exchange for grades. You have to listen to male lecturers tell you what you can or can't wear. You have to walk on eggshells, thinking carefully and choosing your words with caution because Nigerian universities are plagued by extreme cases of violence against women. When I sit for examinations, I am often in fear, not because I am worried about whether I know the material or not but because I am afraid that the examiner will deny me entry to the exam because I have a ring in my nose and I like well-manicured, long nails.
This year, public university students faced even more challenges. Due to a strike from The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over funding and payment systems and a lack of compromise from the government, public universities have been closed in Nigeria since March 2020. That means it's been 10 months since I attended my last university class. Although the strike has been called off conditionally, Nigerian students fear that there will be another strike soon.
(Courtesy of Aladeselu Margaret Ayomikun)
During the first 10-month strike, there was an absolute halt in education for all public university students, which means there were no provisions for the continuation of our education virtually. While students in government-owned tertiary institutions were forced to stop learning, our colleagues in private institutions were not exposed to this frivolous halt in learning. They even were able to take their exams, graduate and start a new semester virtually (at the moment, they are already ahead of us by one whole session).
Because of these interruptions to our education, many fear a mass dropout of students. The crisis’ effects on the mental health of students can also not be undermined. Personally, over the last 10 months, I've suffered from depression and severe anxiety. It's tough to know that your future barely matters in your country, to know that you might never reach the goals you have for yourself. Like most of my colleagues, I enrolled in a vocational school where I learned how to sew garments as it seemed like the best way to spend my time. While learning a skill is good, graduating at the scheduled time would be even better.
The Nigerian government doesn’t understand the struggles of the average Nigerian student as most of our leaders and their children go to other countries for their tertiary degrees. It's rather depressing that the ones who hold the power to build a strong educational sector are the ones least familiar with it.
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