Prof. Wil Goodheer – The Chancellor, International Council for Higher Education, Prof.Goodheer has predicted that Nigeria would
The Chancellor, International Council for Higher Education, Prof.Goodheer has predicted that Nigeria would occupy Africa’s frontline status in education soonest should the quality education and standard currently in operation at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti could be replicated in other citadels of learning in Nigeria.
Speaking while delivering a lecture entitled: “Higher Education, the Future of Nigeria,” to mark the 3rd Anniversary of the founding of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, the education icon remarked that he was of the conviction that academic potentialities abound in that institution even as he urged the university not to relent on its oars in elevating the nation’s education industry on a higher plane.
He regretted that the nation’s tertiary education which he stressed, “should ordinarily propel social, economic and technological development” had been rolling downhill.
The Chancellor expressed deep concern over the fact that no Nigerian institution of higher learning has been classified among top universities in the world, emphasising that 52 years after the nation’s independence, Nigeria was yet to attain such height.
Prof. Goodheer attributed the uncheery development to “instability, poor facilities and poor funding in the sector” adding that such dangerous development has continued to encourage Nigerians to seek quality education in foreign nations.
He remarked that even there, lots of Nigerian graduates find it extremely difficult to do their post graduate programmes as well as get meaningful job opportunities, adding that such situation had brought about wastage of great intellectuals.
About 1,127 fresh students were matriculated into the institution while a galaxy of professional stars from Nigeria and abroad graced the occasion.