239 First-Class Graduates Quit UNILAG Lecturing Jobs In Seven Years — Ogundipe

No fewer than 239 first-class graduates employed as lecturers by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) left the institution between 2015 and 2022.

Immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, disclosed this on Tuesday while delivering a lecture at The PUNCH Forum themed “Innovative Funding of Functional Education in the Digital Age,” held at The PUNCH Place, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Ogundipe revealed that out of 256 first-class graduates retained as lecturers between 2015 and 2022, only 17 remained as of October 2023. He attributed the mass exodus to poor remuneration, unconducive working conditions, and lack of motivation.

“At UNILAG, we decided that those with first-class honours should be employed. What is remaining is not up to 10 per cent. All of them have gone,” Ogundipe said.

Providing figures, he explained: “In 2015, 86 were employed; in 2016, 82; during my time, that is, 2017 to 2022, 88 were employed. As of October 2023, only 17 were on the ground. Very soon, in the next 10 years, you will have only females in the universities if something is not done.”

The former VC lamented that unless urgent steps are taken to improve funding and incentives, Nigerian universities risk losing talented academics, while postgraduate programmes may be flooded by poorly prepared candidates.

He further decried chronic underfunding of the education sector, noting that both federal and state allocations have consistently remained below 10 per cent of the annual budget — far below UNESCO’s recommended 15 to 26 per cent.

Calling for legislative intervention, Ogundipe urged that each first-generation university should be guaranteed at least N1bn annually to tackle infrastructural decay. He also advocated innovative financing models, including public-private partnerships, alumni endowments, philanthropy, diaspora investment, and education bonds.

“The private sector should see education support not just as social responsibility but as enlightened self-interest in building the workforce and markets of tomorrow. To alumni, home and abroad, remember that the institutions that made you now need you. Give, mentor, endow, advise, and advocate for your alma mater and the next generation,” he charged.

PUNCH management staff in attendance included Executive Director, Business Development and Innovation, Mrs Valerie Omowunmi Tunde-Obe; Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr Obafemi Obadare; General Manager, Production, Mr Olayinka Popoola; and Manager, Advertisement, Mrs Mary Ubani.

Also present were the Editor, PUNCH Digital, Mr Lekan Adetayo; Deputy Editor, The PUNCH, Mr Tana Aiyejina; Associate Editor, News, Dr Ramon Oladimeji; and Head of Training, PUNCH Media Foundation, Mr Dele Aina.

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